As Elizabeth woke up, she realized she was firmly but gently snuggled in Jack's arms. She loved this feeling; she always felt safe and secure in his arms. In the short time they had been married, the feeling grew. She would have been content to lay there longer but she felt nauseous. She shifted carefully to look at the clock and gasped when she saw the time. It had been almost 6 hours since they had breakfast. No wonder she was feeling sick. She needed to get something to eat quickly. She started to get up but Jack pulled her closer to him.
"Where were you trying to go, Mrs. Thornton? Stay here with me for a while longer." He said sleepily.
"As much as I would love to I need to get something to eat. I woke up nauseous and if I don't eat some toast and drink some mint tea, I am going to get sick." She tried to get up again but Jack stopped her. "Jack, please! Let me up." She pleaded with him.
"Elizabeth, I want you to stay here and rest. I will go get your tea and toast."
"Ok, Jack. That's sweet of you. Thanks."
"Let me help you sit up against the headboard before I go." He got up from their bed, put some clothes on then helped her sit up.
"Honey, could you also bring me a glass of water?"
"Of course, Sweetheart. Anything you want, just tell me and I will get it. I have some pampering time to make up for." He leaned down to kiss her then started to go downstairs but was greeted by a meowing kitten. "Should I feed Callie while I am down there?" Jack asked as he poked his head back in the bedroom.
"Yes, please. She won't leave you alone if you don't. I still have some chicken in the ice box for her." Jack blew her a kiss then went downstairs with a happy Callie leading the way.
The nausea was getting worse so she tried eating some saltine crackers while she waited for her tea and toast. She needed to remind herself to stay on her schedule now that Jack was home. She decided she would need to explain things to Jack so he could help her remember. She felt a little better after eating a couple of crackers so she pulled out her journal to write about how happy she was that Jack had returned safe and sound and was equally happy about their growing family. She was about to write some more when she felt her stomach start to revolt. She made a mad dash to the bathroom, making it just in time.
Jack walked back into the bedroom with a tray containing her tea and toast. He was surprised not to find her in bed. He was about to call out for her when he heard a noise from the bathroom. It sounded like she was getting sick and he rushed in to find her kneeling by the toilet. He sat down next to her and pulled her hair back away from her face. When it appeared like she was finished, he grabbed a face cloth and wetted it down with cool water. He returned to her side and wiped down her face. She moaned and cuddled up next to him.
"Are you doing better?" He asked her, concern etched in his voice and on his face.
"A little. Would you help me back to bed?"
"Of course." He stood up, then carefully helped her to her feet. She felt dizzy and almost collapsed but he was quick to put his arm around her waist to steady her. "Do you think you will be ok if I carried you to bed?" She nodded and he swept her up in his arms. Once she was settled, he placed the tray in front of her and joined her back in bed. He watched her nibble on her toast and sip the tea. He was worried about her and it showed on his face.
Elizabeth could tell Jack was staring at her. She knew he was concerned about her and she was afraid that worry would grow when she explained why she had gotten sick. She was afraid he would feel like he caused this, but keeping secrets from each other had never worked for them. She drank the rest of her tea, then waited while Jack took the tray back down to the kitchen. When he returned, she gave him a weak smile as she patted his side of the bed. "Jack, I need to talk to you about what just happened, with me getting sick."
"Yes, I do want to talk about that. I'm a little scared about what happened but I'm not sure if that's normal for a pregnant woman. This is my first day on the job as daddy-to-be."
Elizabeth grinned at his comment. "A few days after I found I was pregnant, I started to have bad morning sickness. I couldn't keep any food down and I was so dizzy I had a hard time moving around. I had no energy to get myself dressed to go to work." She looked at Jack's face and noticed how scared he looked. She reached over and squeezed his hand, hoping to let him know that she was fine now. "After a few days I noticed I was losing weight, so when Abigail stopped by to see how I was doing, I explained to her what was going on. She had some thoughts on what could help me but we both felt it would be better to have Carson examine me."
"Elizabeth, I am so sorry I wasn't here for you…" Jack started to say but was silenced by his wife.
"Jack, there is nothing to be sorry for. It isn't your fault." He nodded his head but still felt guilty for not being there for her. "After the exam, Carson said I need to start eating every couple of hours to keep the nausea from returning and to also drink plenty of water. He said I had become dehydrated because of the vomiting which in turn was making me dizzy and even more nauseous. This was exactly what Abigail was thinking I should be doing. She rushed back to the café and came back with some crackers, bread to make toast and she went to the mercantile to get me some mint tea. Mint can help settle upset tummies. When she returned she made me some tea and toast and for the first time in days, I was able to keep it down."
"That's good to hear." Jack reached up to stroke her cheek. She had been so pale after he had found her in the bathroom. Now there was some color returning to her beautiful face.
"I put myself on a set schedule of eating every two hours and I always have a glass of water with me. Within a few days, I was eating better and only felt nauseous first thing in the morning. I make sure to wake up about a half hour before I normally would have to get ready for work. I would eat some crackers then slowly get up and get dressed. By the time I would get downstairs, I was hungry enough to have a good breakfast. The schedule has been working well, except for today." She looked down at her hands, dreading having to tell him what had caused her to be sick today.
Jack thought about what they had done today that would make it different for her. Then it came to him. They had only eaten breakfast. "Sweetheart, I know you said not to apologize but I am going to for one thing. I know a mom-to-be should eat regularly and I didn't even think about that. We should have eaten when we got home. For that I am sorry. That said, I am so glad you explained your routine. I will make sure from now on you follow your plan." He gently put his hands on her face and kissed her.
Elizabeth smiled when they parted. "Thank you, Honey for understanding."
"Of course, Sweetheart. How about we cuddle for a little while we let your stomach settle and then when you are feeling better, I will make us some dinner. Whatever you want." He laid back down on the bed and waited while she put her head on his chest. "It was the excitement of having me home that made you forget your schedule, wasn't it?"
"I'm afraid so Jack, but please don't feel bad. You didn't know. It's your first day on the job as daddy-to-be."
Jack grinned. "Yes it is and for that reason, only a very small part of me feels guilty. That part feels I should have asked you about how you have been feeling, but then I was so excited to see you too. It slipped both our minds." He kissed her head and waited for her to reply but quickly realized she had fallen back to sleep. He remembered her saying that she often fell asleep in the late afternoon now that she was expecting. He pulled her as close to him as possible and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of his future with Elizabeth and their child with a smile on his face.
A week later, Jack and Elizabeth were packing, excited to be going on their trip. Elizabeth's telegram to her aunt and uncle had been happily received. They were thrilled to hear Jack had returned safely and would be coming with his wife to Calgary. Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Wynn had also decided to stay in the same hotel and they would be having dinner together the night Jack and Elizabeth arrived.
They left on the early morning stage, with a basket of goodies from Abigail for them to eat. Elizabeth had been hungry that morning and had some oatmeal before they left for town to board the stage but once they got moving on the bumpy roads, she started to feel nauseous. She nibbled on a biscuit that Abigail had put in the basket and hoped it would help calm her stomach down.
Jack heard her moan as she moved closer to him, wanting to cuddle. The one thing he had learned about his pregnant wife since his return was she loved to be in his arms while she was dealing with morning sickness and he was happy to oblige. This was different though; he found himself wishing there was a way he could help her feel better while on the stage. All he could do was hold her tightly and gently massage her. It did help some because soon he realized she had fallen asleep. He kissed her head and closed his eyes, wanting to get some rest but he was so worried about her, he couldn't.
Suddenly, the stage hit something in the road, causing Jack and Elizabeth to be thrown from their seat. Jack quickly recovered and looked over towards his wife. She was slowly getting up but her face looked pale and slightly green. He watched as she put her hand over her mouth and opened the door. As fast as she could, she jumped out and ran behind a big rock, with Jack close behind her. He found her on her knees throwing up. He ran to her, pulling her hair away from her face and rubbing her back.
A few minutes later, she repositioned herself on the grass and leaned into Jack's embrace. "Are you feeling better?" He asked, concerned, noticing that her face was still very pale.
"Not really but there isn't much I can do about it." She snuggled closer to Jack as he rubbed her shoulders and arms. "What do you suppose caused that bump, Jack?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe we hit a ditch or a rock. Will you be ok if I go find out what happened?" She nodded. Jack took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. "You sit right here and rest. I will be back as quickly as I can." He stood up and kissed her head, stared at her face for a moment then went to talk to the driver. He walked away thinking about his wife and how worried he was about her. It was clear that the bumpiness of the stage was creating havoc on her body and he couldn't figure out a way to make things easier for her. He may have to purchase a horse and buggy for the ride home along with some camping equipment. This way they could ride at their own pace and if Elizabeth felt sick, he could easily stop for her. He would have to think about it some more.
Elizabeth leaned her head back against the rock and closed her eyes for a few minutes. She was grateful the temperatures had cooled down some. It had been in the 80's for the last week or so and very humid which didn't help with her morning sickness. Now it was in the 60's and the cooler air gave her some relief. She took some deep breathes, letting the cool air fill her lungs. When she felt steadier, she slowly got up and started to walk back towards the stage. She was a few feet away when she saw Jack heading towards her. She stopped, knowing he would want to help her the rest of the way. She gave him what she hoped was a bright smile, indicating to him that she was feeling a bit better.
Jack saw her smile and realized what she meant. He returned the grin. "We hit a hole in the road and the wheel broke." He told her as he took her hand and brought it to his lips. "I helped the driver fix it and now we can get going again. He said we only have another hour before we reach Buxton."
"Thank goodness. I think I can handle that." She replied, referring back to how sick she had felt while in the stage.
"I wish there was something I could do to help you, Sweetheart. I feel so useless knowing you feel sick and there isn't anything I can do." He took her hand and they walked back to the stage, where he helped her back in, taking a seat next to her.
Elizabeth turned to him and placed a hand on his cheek. "Oh, Jack. You are helping me, more than you know. Having you here to hold my hair away from my face and rubbing my back while I am sick and letting me snuggle in your arms after are a big help to me."
He gave her a small smile. "I have to think on this some but I have an idea for when we return to Hope Valley. I don't want to take the stage coach again. It's too hard on you."
"All right." She replied as the stage started moving again. She knew he was right; she was already dreading the return trip on the stage so she would be very happy if Jack could think of some other way to get home. Jack put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, Jack was gently shaking her shoulder, waking her up.
"We're here, Sweetheart."
"Wow! I must have fallen asleep." She said as Jack got out of the stage then turned to help her down. He placed his hands on her hips and carefully lifted her out, then put her safely on the ground. He accepted their bags from the driver while Elizabeth carried her purse and the food basket. They were only a short walk from the train station.
Their train was already waiting even though it would be another half an hour before it left. They were quickly brought to the first class compartment Jack had purchased. Once inside and he got a look around, Jack was happy he insisted on going in style for their belated honeymoon. Their compartment had a sitting room, with a sofa and a matching chair. On the other side of the room was a table with two chairs, so they were all set if they wanted to eat in private. Jack took their bags into the bedroom and found it furnished with queen sized bed. In the bathroom he found a tub that looked like it would fit two people. He smiled to himself as he thought about relaxing with his wife in a warm bath. The compartment was the perfect place for Elizabeth to get some rest. He walked back out to the sitting area and found her lying back on the sofa. He quickly joined her.
"The bedroom room looks great and they have a nice tub, if you want to take a bath later." Jack told her as he picked up her hand and brought it to his lips while wiggling his eyebrows at her. He was trying to send her a message that he would like to join her.
She let out a soft sigh. "A bath sounds heavenly." She winked back at him, letting him know she understood what he was suggesting. "Would you mind if we had dinner in here tonight? I don't feel much like mingling in the dining car with the other passengers. Besides, I would much rather be alone with you."
"That sounds perfect, Sweetheart. We could both use some rest after that stage coach ride and it would be nice to be comfortable while we eat dinner." He leaned back on the sofa and pulled her into his arms. They both closed their eyes for a while, until they heard voices outside their door.
Elizabeth sat up abruptly and rushed to the door. "It can't be." She murmured.
Jack quickly stood up and followed her. "Elizabeth? What's wrong?" He asked as she opened the door. In the hall was an older couple talking to a porter.
"Aunt Elizabeth? Uncle Winn?" Elizabeth called to the couple.
The woman turned to see who may have been trying to get her attention. Her face lit up as she smiled. "Beth? Is that you?" The ladies rushed to each other and hugged while the men, including the porter stood by watching. After a few minutes the porter cleared his throat, causing the women to pull apart from the hug.
"Sir, Ma'am, your compartment is right here." The porter explained, pointing to the door next to Jack and Elizabeth's compartment.
'Thank you, Sir." Wynn said as the porter brought their bags in. Once he came out, he handed the porter a tip. He turned back to his wife. "We should get out of the hallway. Why don't the two of you join us in our compartment." He suggested.
"Sounds good." Jack replied as he locked up their compartment.
The ladies walked into the compartment arm in arm. Once Wynn had closed the door, Elizabeth turned to Jack. "Jack, I'd like to formally introduce you. Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Wynn, this Jack."
Wynn shook the hand Jack had outstretched to him. "It's a pleasure finally getting to meet you, Jack. While it's nice to meet other Mounties, our situation is more interesting because we both married Elizabeth Thatcher's who are school teachers."
"I know." Jack replied. "I couldn't believe the similarities when Elizabeth told me about you both."
"Beth, come sit on the sofa next to me." Aunt Elizabeth said as she sat down. Wynn sat down in the matching chair while Jack grabbed one of the table chairs.
"Aunt Elizabeth, I didn't realize we were going to be on the same train. I thought you would already be in Calgary by now."
Aunt Elizabeth smiled. "Well, that was the plan but our stage was delayed due to the weather so we missed our original train. We tried to get out on yesterday's train but it was fully booked so we got tickets for this one."
"I'm sorry you had all that trouble but I am happy we are on the same train together." Elizabeth told her aunt. "What about your hotel reservation? I am guessing they had to give your room to someone else."
"Beth, I sent the hotel a telegram when we got to the first town with a telegraph machine. I asked them to leave word for us here in Buxton. The people at the hotel were very understanding and they will have a room for us when we arrive." Wynn told his niece.
"That's a relief." Elizabeth replied. Just at that moment the train started to pick up speed and the rocking motion was making Elizabeth feel sick. "Jack? Would you go back to our room and grabbed some crackers for me?"
"Feeling sick again?" Jack asked, looking towards her with worry. She nodded. "Would you like me to find the porter and ask for some hot water for tea?"
"Yes, please. Maybe you should get enough for all of us." She looked towards her aunt and uncle. Aunt Elizabeth had an expression on her face that made Elizabeth think she had guessed about the baby.
"Of course. Be right back." Jack leaned down to kiss her forehead. As luck would have it, a porter was just walking by when Jack opened the door. A few minutes later, Jack had returned with the crackers and mint tea for his wife and the porter wheeled in a tray with a tea pot, cups and some pastries. Jack handed the crackers to his wife, then went to make her tea for her. Once everyone had some refreshments, Elizabeth decided it was as good as time as any to tell her aunt and uncle her news.
"Jack and I have something to tell you. I think Aunt Elizabeth has already guessed it. We are having a baby!"
Aunt Elizabeth clapped her hands together in excitement. "I knew it!" She leaned over to hug her niece while Wynn stood up to congratulate Jack. "Congratulations, Beth! I'm so happy for you both"
Uncle Wynn walked back over to the couch and leaned down to kiss Elizabeth on the cheek. "So am I." He could tell that his wife wanted to talk to their niece about women's things so he joined Jack over at the table and they started talking about being Mounties. Before they knew it, it was nearing dinner time. Despite what Elizabeth said earlier, she decided it would be fun to go have dinner as a family in the dining car.
It was nearing 9pm when they couples returned to their compartments. They were all tired and agreed to meet up for breakfast in the morning. Once they were in their rooms, Elizabeth and Jack sat down on the sofa together and held each other.
"Jack?" Elizabeth asked softly
"Hmm? What is it, Sweetheart?"
"Are you still interested in taking a bath with me before we turn in for the night?"
Jack grinned at her. "I am always ready to take a nice, relaxing bath with my beautiful wife. I will go start the water." He took her in his arms and kissed her, passionately. When they parted, he gazed into her stunning blue eyes, a look of pure love on his face. She returned the look, letting him know just by her glance that she was feeling much better. They walked into the bedroom, hand in hand, each one wondering where the evening might take them.