Disclaimer – I own nothing.
Elizabeth's heart clenched at the sight of Jack now dressed in his regular clothes rocking on a swing that she could have sworn hadn't been there two hours ago. She slid from her horse and climbed the front steps, slipping into the seat beside him.
"Is it just me or was this not here …"
"I needed something to do. How is your father?"
"Settling into his hotel room," Elizabeth couldn't contain her chuckle. "He was in pain, I honestly can't remember the last time he rode a horse. He sure was determined to get here," Elizabeth was waiting for that beautiful face she loved so much to split into a grin but it never came.
"Jack?" He looked up instantly, hearing the tone change in her voice.
"He rode through a winter storm Elizabeth, to prevent you from marrying me. Are you sure absolutely sure…"
"Jack Thornton, when are you going to stop questioning things and start listening to your own advice? My father got a letter from me, a letter I sent weeks ago basically laying it all out. That this was my town and you have my heart and this is where my life will be. Regardless of what he says, he came out here, not to stop me but to prove to himself that what he knew about us, and you, was true. That's all." She slipped her hand over his and that's when she noticed the velvet box. Her mind flashed an image of that beautiful ring and the young girl in her fought not to tear it right out of his grasp.
"You know you never actually said yes," he couldn't look at her.
Elizabeth lifted his chin and forced him to meet her gaze, "Yes"
Once the word was out there, there really wasn't anything else to think about. He finally let that smile escape and then wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into him. Their lips met in a kiss so sweet and delicate Elizabeth actually trembled beneath him. When she pulled away they were both rosy cheeked and breathless and it had absolutely nothing to do with the weather.
"Do I get to see the house now?" She smirked and Jack had to laugh.
"No, but you can have your ring." They both looked down and Jack opened the box again. Elizabeth gasped for a second time; it was even more beautiful than she remembered.
"Jack where did this come from, all of this," she waved her hands at the house he was laboring over.
"Well the emerald belonged to my grandmother; I had the jeweller wrap it in diamonds so that it would be really and truly yours. Unique, beautiful and classic all in one little package," she blushed.
"You're such a romantic," she dropped a quick kiss on his lips and then motioned to the house.
"I've made other arrests Elizabeth, I've received other awards and I sleep in the prison. I have literally no expenses, other than the little I send to my mother which she usually just turns around and spends on me – I have saved everything. This hasn't been inexpensive but we won't be in debt and this will be a home we can grow old in."
He watched her shoulders relax and realized that she had probably been wanting to ask him that question for quite some time.
"We're not going to be as wealthy as your parents, but we will be comfortable Elizabeth, I've made sure of that."
"I'm not worried, as long as we're together." He kissed her again then he leaned back in the swing and pulled her back against him. He pulled her hand up and slid the ring onto her finger. A perfect fit. They sat in silence, looking at that ring on Elizabeth's finger each lost in their own thoughts.
"I love you Elizabeth Thatcher," Elizabeth snuggled deeper against him and then let a sigh escape.
"What is it?" He asked and she sighed again, "Elizabeth Thornton." Her voice held disappointment and he couldn't quite figure out why. "Thornton really isn't that different from Thatcher is it? Both names have the same sort of ring to them. It would have been brilliant if you'd had a last name like… Anderson or Faust or even Keller; I don't know, I just always thought I'd get come big change." Jack held it in for only a second and then he let the laughter escape. Fits and fits of it came bubbling up through his chest.
"Stop it Jack," Elizabeth stood from the swing her hands finding her hips in one of his favourite stances. He saw her seriousness but he could not stop laughing.
"If you don't stop laughing right now I'm leaving!" He kept going, "I'm serious Jack!" but he'd caught a case of the giggles and so she huffed and turned storming down the steps towards her horse.
"Elizabeth," Jack choked out, "Wait, Elizabeth don't go" he tried but for the life of him he couldn't hide the smile.
"I love you Jack Thornton but right now I am not happy with you." And then she was gone and all Jack could think was how very fun and eventful their life was going to be.
...
"Well now what has you in such a tizzy?" Rosemary walked into the church/schoolhouse and took in the young schoolteacher bustling to and fro.
"Tizzy? I'm not in a tizzy," Elizabeth brushed her hands down to smooth her skirts and then began trying to tuck stray curls behind her ears.
"Oh honey, I invented the tizzy and you are most definitely in one. Is it your father that has you all wound up or that handsome Mountie you're finally engaged to?" Elizabeth held onto that false image for another second and then exhaled.
"Honestly, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. So much has happened in the fast couple of days. Please don't get me wrong, I am so unbelievably thrilled to finally be engaged to Jack but.."
"It's a big change," Rosemary pulled Elizabeth down into a pew and the two women sat for a moment in companionable silence.
"I've never apologized to you Elizabeth,"
"Apologized? For what?" Elizabeth turned to look Rosemary in the eyes.
"When I came here, for Jack…"
"Rosemary," Elizabeth shook her head trying to stop the woman from speaking but the normally exuberant and bubbly woman stopped her instead.
"Please, I really need to say this." Elizabeth sat back and listened.
"Before I got on that stage coach I was working in a show and a review of my performance was published in the paper. I was a true talent but far too old to be believed as a young debutant. Just like that they cut me," Elizabeth could see the pain in Rosemary's' face and covered the actresses hands with her own.
"When I came here, I had no idea Jack had found you. I simply thought I'd lost everything and if I no longer had the theatre the only thing left was Jack. Then I saw the two of you together. It was so clear Elizabeth, so clear that you two were meant to be it scared me. If Jack was meant to be with you and not me, like I had always believed, who was I meant to be with – Who was I at all. No theater, no Jack. I thought if I could get him to fall in love with me again, or even to simply remember the love we'd had that maybe I could be something again and as I have always done, I masked my pain with the fabulous attitude of an actress from New York City. In that process I hurt both of you and I am so terribly sorry for that. I am even sorrier now because I so desperately enjoy the friendship we've managed to piece together. Before I got on that stage coach I don't think I had ever had a true girlfriend. Coming to Hope Valley was the best decision I ever made, now I have you, Abigail, Molly for heaven's sake and maybe most shockingly of all I have Lee." Elizabeth smiled at the look of pure adoration that crept into Rosemary's countenance at the mention of her husband.
"Oh he's the most amazing man I've ever met and I love him with all my heart and I wouldn't have that if I hadn't come up here and tried to ruin your life," guilt washed over her and Elizabeth cut in.
"Rosemary, I'll admit when you showed up in Hope Valley I wasn't very happy. Here's this stunning woman who has this history with the man I can't even admit to myself I am in love with. It was a confusing time for all of us but I am happy your came. You breathe life into every room you enter and to be honest before I came to Hope Valley I really hadn't had any true friends either. I believe this was all meant to be Rosemary so let's enjoy were this life has taken us and not worry so much about the past."
Rosemary and Elizabeth shared a smile and then Rosemary stood and walked to the door.
"You should set a date," Elizabeth gave her friend a puzzled look.
"It helped settle my nerves, even if it's far away, set a date and start to plan. You have a new life ahead of you Elizabeth and I am so excited to be a part of it.
A/N – sorry a short chapter but I've been thinking about a Rosemary/Elizabeth chat for a while they are two strong women who are entering a similar stage of life that I don't think either one was fully prepared for.