AN: Another chapter for you my fellow Hearties! Your reviews really do make my day!
"Mr. Yost gave me this at the mercantile? I didn't know you'd ordered anything." Jack said as he set a package on the bedside table.
"Oh, it's just some maternity clothes Jack, I've been having some trouble getting my blouses closed." Elizabeth explained as she put her book aside. "I didn't think I'd have to change out my clothes so soon, but the blouses were getting impossible to close over my-" Elizabeth stopped and looked down at her feet. "Well, I'm glad these are here. I'm going to have to go into school on monday and I don't want to look sloppy."
"Sloppy? You never look sloppy." Jack laughed and sat down on her side of the bed.
"You're home late Jack. Where have you been?" Elizabeth asked and reached out to grab Jack's hand. "You missed dinner, I kept a plate on the stove for you. Tom and Julie went to bed about half an hour ago."
"There was a robbery in the mercantile today." Jack shrugged as he unbuttoned his coat. Elizabeth scoffed.
"You're telling me there was a robbery and you don't lead with that?"
"Well I had your package to give you." Jack laughed. He set his jacket on the bedpost, and moved to undo his boots. "It wasn't so bad Elizabeth. The robbery happened this morning, nothing of great value was stolen. Just some cans of food, and meager supplies. I checked out some of the new settlers down by the river, but there wasn't anything suspicious."
"Sounds like someone was hungry." Elizabeth observed. She scooted forward and wrapped her arms up around his chest. She pressed her lips to his throat, and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I missed you. I mean, I had a wonderful time with Julie and Tom, but I did miss you."
"I missed you too. Both of you." Jack smiled and turned just a bit to put his hand on her abdomen. "Huh. I didn't notice this before."
"What?" Elizabeth asked.
"You've got a little bump here." Jack said. Elizabeth's forehead wrinkled.
"That's been there for the last two weeks." Elizabeth said, and put her hand over Jack's. "How did you miss it?"
"I've been preoccupied. By something else that's changing." Jack said nervously and looked down. Elizabeth blushed, and leaned in towards him.
"Jack!" She laughed and hit him across the chest.
"But this is amazing." He said, focusing back in on the slight bulging of her abdomen.
"This is amazing." Elizabeth agreed. "Just wait a month or two, and it'll be even bigger."
"I can't wait. I can't believe you're having my baby." Jack sighed, and kissed her stomach. "You're just more beautiful every day."
"You might not think that once I'm as big as this house." Elizabeth laughed.
"I'm sure that I'll think it every day for the rest of our lives." Jack assured her as he kissed his way up to her mouth.
"Mmm. But I've been reading this book- it says that my feet will swell- I'll get stretch marks on my skin- It even says that- Jack!" Elizabeth laughed as Jack kissed her repeatedly. "I love you very much, Constable Thornton." Jack smiled and kissed her deeply.
….
"I'll take one of your blueberry scones, a biscuit, an apple, and one of the cranberry muffins." Elizabeth said as she sat down in Abigail's kitchen. "Oh, And a lemonade please!"
"My, someone's hungry." Abigail laughed and wiped her hands on her apron.
"Ugh, I don't understand how you can eat so much." Julie sighed as she sat beside her sister and put her face in her hands. "Just looking at food makes me want to vomit."
"Oh, then I'm glad that you came to a cafe with me." Elizabeth said with a furrowed brow.
"It isn't fair...You never even had morning sickness."Julie moaned.
"That's not true. I threw up...once." Elizabeth said. "And then there was all of the dizziness, the bedrest, the fainting."
"I'd take fainting any day over this." Julie sighed, and laid her face on the table. Abigail laughed sympathetically, and put Elizabeth's plate on the table as far from Julie as it could go.
"Julie, try to drink this tea. It'll help with the nausea." Abigail said as she set a steaming mug on the table. Julie groaned, and turned her face the other way. "Trust me Julie." Reluctantly she lifted the mug to her lips and took a sip. Abigail smiled at her, and went back to her stove. "Hm. That's odd."
"What?" Elizabeth asked after she swallowed a bite of her blueberry scone.
"I could have sworn I had two dozen more of these muffins here, but there are four missing." Abigail said.
"You must have served them already?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, I suppose I must have." Abigail nodded curiously.
"Mm. Abigail, this tea is delicious!" Julie chirped, already feeling revitalized. "You're a miracle worker!"
"It isn't anything special Julie. Just some mint tea." Abigail grinned. Julie half smiled at her and reached out to take a piece of Elizabeth's muffin.
"Well, you're certainly feeling better!" Elizabeth laughed and shoved her hand away.
"And you're being selfish- denying your pregnant sister a bit of muffin?!" Julie gasped indignantly.
"You're selfish, stealing your pregnant sister's muffin?" Elizabeth laughed. Abigail smiled, and quickly brought over another muffin. Julie grinned, and lifted the pastry to her lips. "Well, this has been lovely, but I really ought to get to school. How would it look for the teacher to be late on her first day back after bedrest?"
"You'll be fine Elizabeth." Abigail assured her.
"Julie, are you sure you'll be alright all day?" Elizabeth asked as she gathered up her food in her basket. "I hate to leave you."
"I'll be fine Beth! I'm going to be spending the day with that charming Rosemary; we're going to have lunch here with Tom and Lee. It'll be a double date!" Julie grinned giddily. "So I'll be fine, I will."
"Very good Julie. I hope you have a good day." Elizabeth grinned. "Thank you for breakfast Abigail, money's on the table!" Elizabeth walked over to kiss her friend on the cheek.
"Oh Elizabeth, you didn't have to pay!" Abigail insisted.
"With all that I've been eating lately I'm afraid I'd eat you out of house and home!" Elizabeth laughed.
"Never Elizabeth dear." Abigail laughed.
"I wouldn't be at all surprised." Elizabeth insisted. "I think I've gained two pounds in the last three days!"
"Well it doesn't show." Abigail said sweetly.
"Yes it does- look at your little belly! I love it. I hope mine is as cute as yours." Julie sighed and stroked her hand over her mostly flat stomach. Elizabeth rolled her eyes, kissed her sister on the cheek, and waved goodbye as she walked out the door. She took a bite of her apple as she walked down the path she was so familiar with.
"Mrs. Thornton!" She turned her head towards Cassandra, who was walking arm in arm with Gabe.
"Cassandra! Gabe! Always lovely to see you two out and about." Elizabeth smiled.
"Gabe walks me to school before he goes to work at the mill. It means I have to be a little early, but it's worth it." Cassandra grinned. "How are you feeling Mrs. Thornton?"
"Much, much better Cassandra. I want to thank you sincerely for looking after me when I was in the woods. And for visiting while I was resting. And for the bread you brought over. You're very thoughtful." Elizabeth said. They were walking more or less side by side now.
"Oh, 'twas nothing Mrs. Thornton! Love thy neighbor as thyself the good book says!" Cassandra smiled at her. "Besides, I'm so excited about you and Mountie Jack havin' a baby! I love babies! Someday once Gabe and I are hitched, we're gonna have a lot of babies, aren't we Gabe?" Gabe blushed and nodded. "I already have names picked out and everything. Have you got names picked out yet Mrs. Thornton?"
"No, not yet Cassandra. Mountie Jack and I still have to talk about that." Elizabeth smiled.
"Oh, and look at your little belly! But don't you worry Mrs. Thornton, that's the only thing what's gotten any bigger." Cassandra assured her. "You're so thin, I'm sure you ought to eat more. I'll have to bring you some of my special chocolate cake!"
"Oh, her chocolate cake is the best Mrs. Thornton. It gives Mrs. Stanton's a run for it's money." Gabe said, and Cassandra just glowed.
"Well I can't wait Cassandra." Elizabeth said with a smile, and Cassandra beamed even bigger.
"I'll do it tonight! After I do my lessons that is." Cassandra assured her.
"Maybe Mountie Jack and I will have to have you and Gave over to have it with us." Elizabeth said. Now Cassandra really was smiling. Elizabeth opened the front door of the school house, and walked in. She glanced behind her, and watched as Gabe and Cassandra said goodbye. Gabe squeezed her hand, and she stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. Elizabeth smiled and took a seat at her desk to work on her lesson for the day.
AN: Another chapter for you my lovelies! I hope you enjoyed!