Chapter 21: At Last . . .
After that, things happened very quickly. When Abigail returned from Buckstown, she assessed the damage from the fire and resolved to rebuild the café with funds from an insurance policy Mr. Gowan had bought for the café as a co-owner. In the meanwhile, the townswomen decided that, while the café was being rebuilt, Abigail and Clara would stay with Kat, and Elizabeth would stay with Rosalie and her mother.
While Elizabeth was recuperating at Rosalie's house, Jack came by multiple times each day to visit her. Jack spent hours by Elizabeth's bedside recounting the many memories that were coming back to him of their past relationship.
The day after the fire, Jack walked into Elizabeth's bedroom with a box under his arms. Jack brought the box over to Elizabeth and opened it up – inside the box were dozens of burnt and charred pieces of paper. Jack told Elizabeth, "Clara found these in Abigail's parlor when she was cleaning up today."
As Elizabeth sifted through the papers, she explained in a hoarse voice, "When I rode back to Hope Valley after the earthquake, I tied my horse to the back porch and ran inside the house to see if Clara was okay. I called to her from the parlor, and when there was no answer, I ran upstairs. Then I started to smell smoke. All I could think about was saving your framed picture of us - and the letters I had written to you while you were away at the hospital in Hamilton and in Cape Fullerton."
Jack started pulling out some of the scraps of paper from the box, trying to make out the words on them.
Elizabeth continued, "I wrote the letters to show you that I was thinking about you every day while you were gone. But when I got to the top of the stairs, the smoke was so thick . . . I started down the stairs and lost my footing. I must have dropped the box, but I was able to hold onto your picture. I was having trouble breathing, so I sat down on the stairs and then . . . I think I blacked out because the next thing I remember, I saw your face leaning over me out on the grass . . . ." Elizabeth looked at Jack gratefully. "Have I thanked you enough for saving my life again?"
Jack grinned and replied, "All in a day's work, Elizabeth. All in a day's work." Jack reached over for Elizabeth's hand as he spoke. "I remember kicking the box at the bottom of the stairs and seeing all those scraps of paper flying around in the parlor in the smoke. I promise I will read them all." Elizabeth looked at Jack shyly and admitted, "They basically all say the same thing – how much I was thinking about you and missing you while you were gone."
Jack smiled and started to lean in to kiss Elizabeth, when Rosalie skipped into the room. The couple pulled back quickly, and adjusted themselves as they looked over at Rosalie. Rosalie stopped and stared at them. "Mountie Jack, you're here all the time now – are you and Miss Thatcher going to get married for real this time?"
Elizabeth blushed and lowered her eyes, still not sure how Jack was feeling about that issue. Jack chuckled and shook his head at Rosalie's forwardness. Then he abruptly pushed his chair aside and dropped to his knees before Elizabeth's bed. Elizabeth stared at Jack, startled, as Jack took Elizabeth's hands in his.
"Elizabeth," Jack said seriously, looking into Elizabeth's eyes, "a few days ago you told me that you wanted to have adventure in your life. Well, there's no doubt that the two of us are meant to have many adventures together. Elizabeth Thatcher, will you marry me? I love you . . . I will always love you. I know I've asked you before, and I'm hoping you'll forgive me for everything that has happened between then and now. Please give me another chance . . . I promise, I swear to love and cherish you to the end of my days. And I will try my hardest never to hurt you again."
Elizabeth gasped at Jack's unexpected proposal and the forcefulness of his words. Jack kept searching Elizabeth's eyes, hoping that Elizabeth would be willing to trust him again.
Before Elizabeth could respond, Rosalie let out a long whistle. "Whoo, that was great. I can't wait to tell the other kids!" Rosalie turned and ran out of the room. Elizabeth let out a short laugh as Rosalie scampered off. Elizabeth turned back to Jack, and saw that he was still anxiously waiting for her reply. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders jokingly and answered, "Well, I guess I have to say yes now, since Rosalie is already spreading the news like the Pony Express!"
Jack pulled Elizabeth's hands close to his chest. "Elizabeth, seriously, I don't want you to feel pressure, from me or Rosalie or anyone else. What do you want, what is your heart saying? Can you forgive me for what I've put you through?" Jack stared intently into Elizabeth's eyes.
Elizabeth reached her hands up to touch Jack's face. "Jack, my feelings haven't changed. I don't need to forgive you, there's nothing to forgive. I love you . . . I always will." Jack pulled Elizabeth into his arms and kissed her deeply, the way he'd been wanting to kiss her ever since he'd returned to Hope Valley and realized his heart was still tied to hers.
All of a sudden, there was scuffling on the stairs as half the town's children came running into Elizabeth's bedroom, led by Rosalie. Jack reluctantly pulled his lips from Elizabeth's, but continued to hold her tightly as the children ran up to the couple, clapping and cheering at their renewed engagement. Jack leaned down and whispered in Elizabeth's ear, "This time, nothing will stop us. I promise." Jack squeezed Elizabeth's hand, and she looked up at him, allowing hope back into her heart for the first time in a long while.
One week later, Elizabeth stood by Jack's side, she in white, he in his red serge, both of them in the gazebo, standing before Preacher Frank, in front of the entire town of Hope Valley, on a beautiful sunny day, ready to speak those proverbial words which would bind them together for life in the eyes of God and their community.
Abigail sat in the front row, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, grateful that these two young people, who were so obviously in love with each other, had found a way to overcome all their obstacles and pledge their hearts to each other, as she had always known they were supposed to do.
Many of the townspeople similarly breathed a sigh of relief – they recognized, like Abigail, that Elizabeth and Jack were meant to be together, even if it meant that their lovely teacher and brave constable would be leaving town for a while to return to Hamilton for the summer. The townspeople hoped that these two young people – who had already sacrificed so much for Hope Valley – would return in the fall and continue to help their town grow and prosper.
After it was all done – after the vows, the rings, the kiss, the hugs and the cheers – during the party, where Jack barely left Elizabeth's side, Elizabeth turned to Jack and asked if she could talk to him privately for a few minutes. Jack grinned mischievously and said, "Of course," and walked with Elizabeth behind the schoolhouse, out of sight of the others. Jack started to pull Elizabeth towards him for another kiss, but Elizabeth put her index finger on Jack's lips and said, "Not yet." Jack frowned and stood back, not sure what Elizabeth wanted to tell him.
Elizabeth took Jack's hand in hers and looked into his eyes. "Jack, I want you to know, I am going to be different this time." Jack cocked his head and started to ask, "What do you mean?", but Elizabeth stopped him with her index finger again. "Please let me finish," Elizabeth pleaded.
Elizabeth continued, "Jack, I so appreciate that you're coming back to Hamilton with me, as my husband, for Viola's wedding. I know it isn't easy for you there. But this time, I'm going to be different. I'm going to stay by your side, as I should have done before, so that you'll feel more comfortable. And I'm going to show my family and everyone in Hamilton that you and I are together now as one, and nothing can come between us."
Jack nodded appreciatively, and then pulled Elizabeth close to him again. "That sounds good, staying close to me, because the Mounties gave me just a few weeks off for our honeymoon, and that's what honeymooners do, right? Stay close to each other, right?" Jack leaned in for a kiss. Elizabeth smiled and gave Jack the kiss he'd been waiting for so patiently.
After their kiss, Elizabeth looked up at Jack and repeated, "I mean it – I promise things will be different this time." Jack smiled at Elizabeth and assured her, "Elizabeth, don't worry. We'll make it work. Your family and all of Hamilton will see – true love does conquer all." Jack kissed Elizabeth's hand and smiled a smile that made Elizabeth's knees weak.
Elizabeth, tears in her eyes, whispered, "What we have is true love, isn't it?" Jack answered solemnly, "I believe it is . . . I know it is. What I feel for you . . . ." Jack shook his head in amazement.
The young couple looked at each other with such deep love, it was as if the rest of the world had disappeared. And for a little while, for them, it did.
Jack and Elizabeth had been given a gift that hopefully they would use wisely. From that day forward, so long as they remembered their special bond as husband and wife, they could weather any storm and bear any burden. That was the strength of their love – a true love – that united their souls and sealed their futures together forever.
[Readers – SO SORRY it has taken me so long to finish this story. Between work and various other responsibilities, I was having a hard time finding the time to write. To be honest, though, I had also lost some of my inspiration once I wrote Chapter 20, and the story was almost over. I had terrible writer's block for a while. But in the last few days, a new story line has come to me that I think will be very exciting to write (and read), so look for a whole new story from me in a little while on this site. Thanks again for all your support these last few months!]