Chapter 6- Understanding

"You got a lot of mail today. A package from your family. Letters from Hope Valley", Jack called out to Elizabeth as he walked in the front door after his trip to the post office late Saturday morning.

"Oooh, Thanks. I love mail", Elizabeth replied happily as she came out of the bedroom. "You have fun fishing with Michael. I've got plenty to keep me busy. I want to prepare some more lessons and then do some reading. My mother was going to send me some books. Novels and medical books. This must be it."

"I packed you a sandwich", she added as she nodded to the bag on the side table.

"Thanks, sweetie. I'll be back in a few hours", he said as he kissed her on the cheek before grabbing the bag and gathering his fishing gear.

Elizabeth watched wistfully as Jack headed out the door. Things weren't totally back to perfect between them. But they were almost there. They both had avoided mentioning ghosts since their argument. Unfortunately, much like Bunny, the topic seemed to be hovering around them. Unseen but still there.

"Doesn't it bother you that your wife believes in ghosts", Jack asked as the men sat on the edge of wooden bridge, their feet dangling off the side as their poles dipped into the river below.

Michael laughed. "Lucy believes that four leaf clovers bring us good luck. She talks to her chickens like they can understand her. She thinks rainbows are the most beautiful thing in the world. She's a bundle of energy and happiness. If she wants to believe there's a ghost protecting her during her pregnancy, what's the harm?"

"It's not realistic", Jack countered in surprise.

Michael got a serious expression on his face and was quiet for a minute before replying.

"When I was 19, I got appendicitis. We were five hours by wagon from the nearest hospital. Every minute of that trip I was going over my symptoms in my head. Having my Ma check my temperature. Analyzing ever twinge, every pain. Wondering if my appendix was getting ready to burst. Every bounce in the wagon made me grab my side and pray it wouldn't burst. Pray that we would get to the hospital in time. I ain't saying that a pregnancy's like appendicitis. But what I am saying is that for five hours, there was something in my body worrying the dickens out of me. And that was only five hours. I can't even imagine what it must be like to be a woman carrying a baby. To worry about a baby in your body for 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. For 9 months. Praying that you don't feel something going wrong. Hoping that you feel the baby moving inside you when you're supposed to. Praying that the baby is born healthy."

Michael paused for a moment. "You want to talk realistic? Lucy left her ma and pa, her six brothers and sisters, her friends, her job. All of it to come live out here with me. And in a few months she's going to go through the most physically painful thing in her life to give us a baby. If Lucy wants to believe there's a ghost protecting her, I'm not going to stop her."

Michael reached into his satchel and pulled out two beers, handing one to Jack. "If it makes it easier for you, try thinking of Bunny as a guardian angel rather than a ghost. That's what some of the other husband do."

Jack frowned and shook his head slightly at the thought of Elizabeth giving birth. "I don't know if I can handle watching Elizabeth go through childbirth knowing I can't do anything to stop the pain."

Michael took a slug of his beer. "That's why we men usually wait outside."

The fish had been delicious and Elizabeth was grateful that Jack had volunteered to make dinner and clean up while she continued to look through the medical books her mother had sent. She took a piece of chocolate from the box on the table and nibbled on it. When Jack had brought the candy home after stopping by the mercantile on his way back from fishing, she had given him a curious look. He had just smiled and said he wanted to do something nice for her.

Elizabeth now turned a page in the thick medical book and cringed at the paragraph she read before she quickly closed the cover and pushed it aside as if it was repulsive.

Jack watched as Elizabeth stared at the closed book.

"What are you thinking?" he asked curiously.

"I was remembering when Sabrina Lapointe told me about the fire and how you found her in the creek and you got trapped by the flames. And how you had to deliver her baby. Was it awful? Delivering the baby?"

Jack put down the dishtowel and the plate he had been drying. "I wouldn't say it was awful. It wasn't exactly pleasant but it wasn't awful. She probably would have preferred to have a doctor there rather than her husband's Mountie friend, but it all worked out."

"Was she in a lot of pain?"

"It's hard to tell with Sabrina. You know how tough she is. She was probably in labor for hours before I even found her. She handled it real well."

Jack watched as Elizabeth reached for the book. She opened it and read just a few more sentences before closing it and pushing it aside again.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"About Bunny. "

"Elizabeth, it's okay. You don't have to explain", Jack interrupted gently.

"Yes, I do. I was overacting. I've been doing a lot of reading. It's normal for pregnancy to make women overly emotional. There's hormones. Worrying. A change in sense of smell. Fatigue. There's a lot going on. You were right about something. I'm scared of labor and I guess I just like idea of knowing that something's looking out for me."

"Elizabeth, it's going to be fine. I promise. We have a doctor in town. I've delivered a baby before. You're perfectly healthy. I'm sorry I was so hard on you. I have no idea what you must be going through", Jack said as he moved over to Elizabeth and wrapped her up in his arms.

"I love you", he said as he kissed her on the head while she buried her face in his chest, inhaling the scent of him. "You were handling everything so well that I guess I didn't think about how difficult being pregnant can be. You've been doing the hard part being the pregnant one, and I've just been going along on the ride. You can believe in anything you want… even a ghost. "

Jack paused for a moment, stroking Elizabeth's hair, before he spoke again.

His voice was barely above a whisper. "You're carrying my son or daughter. I cannot be prouder or more in love with you."

Before she could reply, Elizabeth burst into tears.

"Sorry", she apologized as she wiped her face on Jack's shirt. "That's just the hormones", she sobbed as tears continued to roll down her face. "You're the sweetest husband", she said as she sniffled and reached into her skirt pocket for a handkerchief.

When she pulled out the handkerchief and saw the letter embroidered on it, she laughed despite her tears. "Maybe you want to rethink this one."

Jack looked at the handkerchief and saw the "R" embroidered in blue thread.

This was the fourth handkerchief he had given her since they were courting. Each one with a monogram representing his nicknames for her. "W.D." for "walking disaster" because she had seemed to get into so much trouble when she had first come to Coal Valley. "T.O." for "the one" because that's how Jack felt about her. "M.J.T." for Mrs. Jack Thornton.

Weeks ago, when Elizabeth had unwrapped the newest box and seen the single letter stitched on the pretty white square cloth, she had smiled and guessed at the significance. Romantic? Rich? Radiant? Jack had just chuckled at her and let her keep guessing. Determined not to give up until she got it right, Elizabeth had opened up her dictionary and skimmed the words beginning with the letter R. "This just proves it was the right choice", Jack had said with a grin as she guessed word after word until she finally smiled when she found the correct one

Now, holding her on couch, looking at his tearful wife holding the handkerchief, he grinned at her. "I chose exactly right. You are the most resilient woman I know."

I can't believe how stupid I was being. Jack was right. I was being irrational. I declare, having a baby growing in me has changed just more than my dress size. No more talk about ghosts. I'm finished with that. Done. What an idiot I was, Elizabeth thought as she relaxed in Jack's arms.

When she moved her head to blow her nose again, Elizabeth's eyes were drawn to Comet, who was stretched out the floor. Comet's little feline nose was twitching as if she were breathing in the scent of something.

I know, Comet. I smell it too. Just ignore it. Elizabeth thought before she leaned back against Jack's strong chest.

If we ignore it, maybe it will go away.

Next: Chapter 7. Secrets of the Mercantile