CHAPTER 3

The trip to Hamilton seemed longer than usual. Elizabeth glanced at the empty train seat next to her and frowned. Jack was supposed to have travelled with her. She closed her eyes and eventually fell asleep to the lulling of the train's motion.

When she finally arrived in Hamilton, a driver was waiting for her at the station. She rode home in silence barely taking in the familiar sights around her as her mind was on Jack. Her mother and Viola met her at the front door. "Elizabeth, darling, it's so good to have you home!" her mother said with a hug.

"It's good to be home," Elizabeth replied. But she wasn't sure she meant it. Where was home? She had thought Hope Valley was now home. But Jack was no longer there.

"I hope you're back for good now!" her mother added.

Before she could respond, her father came with a hug. "Elizabeth. Welcome home!"

"Charles has been asking about you," Viola said.

"Has he?" Elizabeth frowned.

"Yes." She turned. "Father, we should invite him over for dinner tomorrow."

"No!" Elizabeth protested. "I do not want to see him." All eyes turned to her.

"But, Elizabeth…"

"I said, no. Please." She went to her room and sat on the bed. She touched her left wrist gently. The bruises had faded, but the memory of that time remained. She looked around. Things had changed. Was this home any longer? She began to feel so out of place here. And…lonely. She missed Jack more than ever.

Jack was in his hotel room in Hamilton. He realized what day it was. School in Hope Valley was over for the season. Elizabeth's sister was to be married in a week. That meant Elizabeth should be in Hamilton very soon if not already. He was supposed to have accompanied her. Had Charles somehow convinced her to accept his marriage proposal? No announcement of engagement had appeared in the Hamilton newspapers, so that gave him a glimmer of hope. He longed to see her if even from afar, although he knew it wasn't a good idea to venture out during the day, and he had been working long nights lately. He decided to make an attempt as soon as he was able.

Julie had returned to Hamilton for Viola's wedding to everyone's surprise. Julie explained that Tom had tried to get her to come back home, but she refused, until now for the wedding. But she vowed she would leave again right after, and no one was stopping her. Elizabeth tried talking to her, but nothing would change her mind. Their parents essentially gave up.

"Have you heard from Jack recently?" Julie asked upon entering Elizabeth's bedroom one evening.

"No, I haven't," came the curt response.

With a frown, Julie responded, "Tom said he hasn't either. I'm sure he's fine, Elizabeth." But Elizabeth was not convinced.

The next day, Charles stopped by the Thatcher Estate. Elizabeth was unable to avoid him. "Elizabeth, could we go for a walk?"

She paused, clearly hesitant to spend time alone with him. "Please, I'll be good," Charles promised.

"Very well."

They walked at first in silence. Then Charles spoke. "Elizabeth, I apologize for my actions in Hope Valley. I don't know what came over me except my deepest desire to be with you, for the rest of our lives."

"I forgive you, Charles."

"Have you told your family what happened?"

"No, of course not." She looked at her wrists. "But this has to stop. I never meant to give you the impression there was anything between us beyond friendship." She took his hands in hers trying to forget the pain those hands had caused not long before. But she knew a kiss on the cheek was no longer appropriate, and realizing now it never really was. "This must be it. We can't spend time together any longer."

"Elizabeth…are you certain?"

She looked at him. She knew he was asking more about her relationship with Jack than anything else. "I've never been more certain of anything in my life." They walked back to the house together.

Little did she know that across the street, Jack was watching them together, but he was too far away to hear their conversation. He thought seeing them together here in Hamilton, and holding hands, was his answer…that Elizabeth had, for some reason, accepted Charles' proposal. He walked away feeling totally defeated.

Two days before the wedding, Elizabeth found herself walking by Mountie headquarters in Hamilton. After some hesitation, she went inside. "May I help you, 'ma'am?"

"I'm looking for Constable Jack Thornton. Is he here?"

"No, I'm sorry, he isn't. May I take a message down for him if we can get it to him?"

"No, thank you. That's all right." Frowning, Elizabeth turned and left. She was no closer to finding the man she loved.

To be continued...