Chapter 197 – Morning Rounds

That night Elizabeth and Jack had a quiet night in. Jack worked on a sketch and Elizabeth on her writing. Both wanted to do something and get out, but felt that it was best that they just spend some time alone together. Jack reminded her that she would back to school the next week and they wouldn't have that much time together. Jack seemed better that night and Elizabeth wasn't as worried about Jack. She was still concerned that there was something he wasn't sharing with her.

"You know that I am here if you want to talk." Elizabeth said.

"I know." Jack said. "There are just some things that I can't share. There are things that I learn on the job that I can't share with you. I wish that it wasn't like that, but I don't want to compromise any investigation."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I understand that you can't share things with me, but would you consider a journal to write things in. That way you can write out what is going and you can get those feelings out. I am just worried that by keeping things in, it will eat you alive. I don't want you to lose yourself because you can't talk to anyone."

"I will think about it." Jack said. "I know that you have found writing in a journal helpful, and I don't want to let what I see destroy me either."

"That is all I ask." Elizabeth said.

What Jack wasn't saying was that he was upset about the way things had gone with Gowen and some of the things that they had found at the house. Jack had talked to both Dee and Wynn about things and he knew that he could talk to Bill and for the time being, that was just going to have to be enough. Elizabeth walked over to Jack and stood in front of him swaying back and forth just ever so slightly. She waited until Jack looked up at and when he did, he saw Elizabeth rolling her bottom lip between her teeth driving him wild.

"Now would you mind going upstairs with me, Mr Thornton?" Elizabeth asked with a coy smile.

"I would love to Mrs Thornton." Jack said.

They quickly did their nighttime routine and banked the fires, bolted the doors and turned down the lanterns before heading upstairs to make love. Jack had wanted to memorize every inch of Elizabeth. He loved the way that her skin felt under his fingers. He loved that she has a small dimple on one of her hips that no one else knew about. He loved the way that she would arch her back and wrap her legs around him when they came together. He loved how she would curl into his side and just fit there as if he had been specifically made just for her to fit. Elizabeth loved that she could drive Jack wild dancing her fingers across his taut muscles or the way that she dragged her nails down his back. Elizabeth loved how they fit together and Jack would hold her wrapped in his arms until she fell asleep. They both knew that there would be days that they would be apart, but they were going to enjoy every moment that they had together.

As Elizabeth lay there, Jack laid his large hand across her flat stomach and watched Elizabeth as she was breathing. He was thinking about how he couldn't wait until she was carrying his child inside of her. He couldn't wait to watch her stomach grow and feel his child kick while still inside. Jack wasn't sure how Elizabeth was going to feel, but Jack knew that he wanted to be in the room when their children were born. He knew that it wasn't something that usually happened, but he also knew that unless things changed, he might actually be the one to deliver their children, at least the first one. Jack couldn't wait to experience all the ups and downs with Elizabeth that children would bring. Jack was lost in thought, his hand still splayed out across Elizabeth's stomach that he didn't notice that she had woke up. She saw Jack's protective hand on her stomach and couldn't help but think what a wonderful father he would be. She closed her eyes and snuggled back into Jack's side. He pulled her closer and kissed her temple and then laid his head on his pillow. He went to bed dreaming of curly haired little ones with his dimples and Elizabeth's blue eyes.

That was how Jack woke the Thursday morning, Elizabeth curled into his side and his hand still protectively across her stomach. There was a part of him that wished that he could stay there forever watching Elizabeth, but he knew that he needed to get up and get ready for rounds. Jack placed a kiss on Elizabeth's temple and slid from their bed. He pulled the covers back over Elizabeth. He went over and started to get ready for the day. Elizabeth opened her eyes and watched her husband carefully as he stood there with nothing on for a moment stretching and quietly put on his uniform. She wished that he could stay with her in bed, but she knew that she would be starting school again in a few days as well. She closed her eyes for a moment and waited until she heard Jack head downstairs. She then slipped from the bed, pulled her nightgown back on and wrapped herself in a robe. She then went downstairs.

"Sorry." Jack said. "I didn't mean to wake you. I was trying to be quiet."

"I woke up because my heater was missing." Elizabeth teased.

"What?" Jack questioned.

"Honey." Elizabeth said. "I don't know if you know this, but you are a human heater. I swear the temperature in the bed drops the moment you leave. Besides, I need to get use to getting up since school starts in a few days again."

"Well." Jack said. "I am glad that I can keep you warm."

Elizabeth walked over to the stove giving Jack a kiss. She then helped him make breakfast. Once their food was ready they sat down together. Jack took Elizabeth's hand and they bowed their heads.

"Heavenly Father." Jack said. "Thank you for this day, please be with us as we go about our day. Protect the Mounties as they work to protect your people. Bless this food to our bodies and make us a blessing to each other. Amen."

"Amen." Elizabeth said.

"So what are you going to do today?" Jack asked.

"I need to look over my lesson plans." Elizabeth said. "Then I plan on writing some. I will probably head into town to spend some time with Aunt Elizabeth and your mother. Do you know what you are doing today?"

"I am sure that there is still paperwork that needs to be done." Jack said. "Other then that, I am not sure. I just am hoping for a slow day."

"How about I let you know when I come to town." Elizabeth said. "Maybe we can have lunch together."

"Please." Jack said. "I know that we won't get to do that everyday, but it is nice while we can."

They finished their breakfast. Jack kissed Elizabeth and then headed to the livery to get Sergeant so he could check out the area. After Jack left, Elizabeth cleaned up the breakfast dishes, then went to get dressed for the day. When she came back downstairs, she made herself some tea before sitting down at her writing desk. She first planned to look over her lesson plans. As she did that, she realized that there was a book that she wanted so she headed upstairs to the spare bedroom to find the book that she wanted. That reminded her that she still hadn't put the books on the bookshelves that Jack had built her. So she found the one that she wanted and then carried a stack downstairs. She started putting them away. She ended up carrying a couple more stacks down before she finally sat to look at the stories she was writing. Before Elizabeth knew it, it was time to head into town to have lunch with Jack. Before she left the house, she looked if there was anything that they needed. She quickly made a list for the mercantile as well as Abigail. Elizabeth grabbed one of her larger baskets and then headed to town. She went to the mercantile first. She picked up everything that she needed and while she was paying for her items, Katie Yost remembered that there was mail for Elizabeth so she handed that to her as well. Elizabeth recognized her mother's writing, but didn't want to open it just yet, so she put it in her basket with the groceries.

Jack quickly made his way to town and straight to the livery. When he walked in both Sergeant and Thor greeted him. They were both dancing in their stalls. Jack first went to Thor and gave him a little attention. He then went to Sergeant.

"Hey boy." Jack said. "I know you like to get out and run, but Thor is a newer horse and I know that he is trained, but I would feel better riding him before Elizabeth does. I know that she rode him once, but she had Dee and Zeus there."

Sergeant nickered in response. Thor stuck his head over his stall door and was looking for more attention. Just as Jack went to get his saddle for Thor, he realized that Thor had his own split saddle that the Mounties used so he grabbed that instead. Jack made quick work of saddling Thor. Before he lead him from the livery, Jack stopped to give Bill's horse Ember some attention. He also gave Dee's horse Zeus a little attention. Jack promised each horse a treat when he returned.

"Spoiling them all, I see." A male voice said.

Jack turned and saw Wynn standing there.

"Is there something that you need, Sir?" Jack asked.

Wynn looked at him and shook his head.

"I told you to call me Wynn." He said.

"Sorry." Jack said. "I am in uniform and so are you. Old habits."

"It is fine." Wynn said. "Dee is on this way. I was going to ride with you today."

"Fine." Jack said. "I didn't know that Dee was coming."

"Do you still want to ride Thor or can I?" Wynn asked.

"I just wanted to see him before I allow Elizabeth to ride him." Jack said. "I mean I know that Dee and her rode before the wedding, but I don't want Elizabeth taking him out be herself …."

Again Wynn looked at him.

"It is not that I don't trust you." Jack said. "I just know that she hasn't really rode on her own other then a couple of times."

"No need to explain." Wynn said. "How many horse do you think I rode before I found the perfect one for my niece?"

"I don't know." Jack said.

"Fifteen." Dee said coming into the livery.

"Really?" Jack questioned.

"Yes." Wynn said. "I looked at over four dozen and rode fifteen before I found Thor here. He is perfectly safe and completely bomb proof. I made sure to put him though the paces."

"Of course." Jack said. "Here you take Thor. I will get Sergeant saddled."

Jack made quick work of saddling Sergeant while Dee saddled Zeus. They all walked out of the livery and mounted up. They hadn't gone far when Jack looked at Wynn.

"So Thor and Zeus?" Jack asked.

"That is nothing." Dee said. "Dad's horse is Balder."

"I take you guys like Norse mythology." Jack said. "So where does Zeus come from because if I remember correctly he is Greek."

"I am impressed." Wynn said. "My side of the the family comes from Norway so the only way to go is Norse mythology. Beth is English and Irish."

"I chose Zeus for my new horse." Dee said. "My old horse was Odin, from Norse mythology. If you know Greek mythology, Zeus is the most powerful and after everything I have been though I thought it was fitting."

"I didn't realize that Elizabeth was part Irish." Jack said. "I guess we never talked about it."

"Thornton that would be ….?" Dee said.

"Scottish." Jack said. "My mother is Irish. Her maiden name is Walsh."

"So." Wynn said. "Your children will be Irish, Scottish and English. And descendant from royalty on both of Elizabeth's families sides."

"Mine as well." Jack said. "My father was related to Scottish royalty. All be it distantly. Still I think it would have been different if they wouldn't have left Scotland."

"How fitting." Dee said.

"Guess I never thought about it." Jack said. "Elizabeth and I don't live like that and I doubt that she has any desire to at this point. Granted I will treat Elizabeth and any children that we have like royalty, we will not live like it. I grew up mostly on the ranch and I want my children to have those same values of hard work."

"You are right." Wynn said. "Elizabeth did talk to about the money though, right."

"Yes." Jack said with gritted teeth. "It was the source of a few fights."