Sorry everyone, I forgot to put a heading in the last chapter; everything from Jack and Michael riding Sargent to Lee and Jack talking takes place before the party.
Abigail Stanton was beside herself as she walked into the newly refurbished saloon. Her minds instantly went back in time to the first time she ever saw Elizabeth, her hat limp, her dress in shambles, and her face flushed with exhaustion. The saloon had been no more useful as a saloon then as a school, but Elizabeth had made due with what she had, and the children had flourished under her tutelage. Now she had a proper schoolhouse and was thriving as a teacher.
Abigail not only marveled at how nice the saloon looked, but at how beautifully decorated it was, all due to the lovely Ms. Levoux no doubt. Tonight was going to be a good night for everyone.
Jack Thornton was whistling softly as he polished his buttons when Michael Grant walked into his room. Jack had offered to take Michael for the day, wanting to give her some much needed alone time. When he had picked Michael up that morning the young man had been waiting with a brown paper package. Inside the package was his Mountie costume. Jack smiled as Michael was now wearing the very costume in question.
"You look very handsome tonight bud. I think your momma's going to be surprised".
"What are you doing", Michael asked, pointing to Jack's polished buttons.
"I'm polishing my buttons for tonight, I'm wearing my dress uniform for the occasion and wanted to look extra nice".
"Could you polish mine"?
Jack stooped down to look more closely at the jacket of the costume. Real wool and real brass buttons.
"Sure thing buddy".
Finishing up with his own buttons Jack removed the polishing plate, closing it around the first five buttons. He continued humming the tune as he worked, polishing each button to a shine. Not as bright as his, but good enough, even for a Mountie.
"There you go Private Grant", Jack said, "that's a good shine for a Mountie".
Are you going to be my new daddy"?
The question caught Jack off guard. Sure, he had thought about it, dreamed even, but to actually face it now was all to real.
"W-would you like me to be".
The young boy nodded.
"I already have a daddy, but he's in heaven. You'd be a good daddy on earth with me and mommy".
With that final bomb drop Michael casually left the room, leaving Jack to ponder the boy's jarring statement.
Elizabeth was beside herself with worry. 'Do I look alright, does my hair look good, will Jack like what he sees'? All of these questions, and many more, cycled through her mind as she got ready. She was wearing a red velvet dress with a black lace pattern on the body of the dress, and a brass colored border. All in all it was a very becoming dress on her, hugging her in all the right places without evoking unwanted thoughts. Her heart skipped as she heard a knock on the door. This was her first night out with a man since Michael was born, and she was extremely nervous.
"Alright Elizabeth", she said, looking at her reflection in her vanity, "it's time".
She made her way down stairs and slid her feet into her low, dark red heels. Smiling once more she opened the door, only for her breath to be taken away. There, dressed sharply in his dress uniform, was Jack Thornton, looking more and more like a hero of old.
Michael looked at his momma, then at Jack, trying to figure out what they were staring at.
"Good evening Elizabeth", Jack said, breaking his stare.
"Good evening Jack".
"You look very beautiful".
Elizabeth blushed. She hadn't worn this dress in ages.
Jack couldn't help but take in Elizabeth choice of dress for the evening, short sleeved with a brass colored trim, covering her shoulder. It was conservative without looking up-tight. Gallantly he offered her his arm and led her to the surrey. Sargent himself had been scrubbed down and trimmed for the evening, hoof trim and all. He had no idea what the fuss was about, but with the display the food woman gave today, holding up the noisy box, he figured that it must have something to do with that. Feeling the snap of the reigns he began to walk. He didn't mind the harness, but he wished he wasn't restricted by it. If he had it his way he would break into a run, and run and run and run forever, but he didn't. He would miss his master, and the little master. The human people needed someone of intelligence to help them. So he stayed. If he were being honest, he loved it. He had all of the oats he could eat, apples too, and not just grass like he had when he was young and wild. He appreciated variety.
"Y'know", Jack said to Elizabeth as they drove through the warm night, "sometimes I wonder what Sargent is thinking".
At the sound of his name Sargent neighed softly and shook his head up and down.
"Well, he is the smartest horse I've ever met", she said.
Everyone had made it to the saloon without incident when Jack, Elizabeth, and Michael arrived. Elizabeth blushed as everyone fawned over her new dress. Her face was permanently flushed as she told of how her mother had sent it to her as a gift. As music began to play Jack stole her away from the ladies and danced with her, leading her this way and that.
"You know", Jack said, spinning her in a gentle arc, "if you want, the Mounties Christmas Ball is coming up soon, and I would be honored if you would be my date for the evening".
"Jack, I would love to be there".
As the music stopped everyone clapped while Rosemary and Lucas stood up.
"Ladies and gentlemen", Lucas began, hand in his vest pocket while the other held a flute of champagne, "don't get to aquatinted with the refreshments tonight, Rosie and I have talked it over and have decided that we will be opening up as a restaurant, so drink up, because you're never going to see it here again".
Everyone cheered at the announcement. Hope Valley was not exactly dry, after all there had never been a vote, but it was commonly accepted that nobody ever brought in alcohol, except for the saloon, and even then nobody ever bought enough alcoholic drinks to justify even having a saloon in the first place.
"You do realize that I own the only eatery in town, right," Abigail called out cheerfully.
"A little healthy competition never hurt anyone Abigail", Rosemary replied, "but now that the announcements are over, I would like to invite our very own Constable Jack Thornton up to sing a special song for a special someone".
Jack blanched at the announcement. What did Rosemary have in mind? He was about to protest when every hand in the building, including those of his own friend, Faith, pushed him up to the front where the cheering resumed. Waiting at the front was Rosemary, holding his old guitar.
"I thought I lost this," he said, holding the familiar instrument, "I pawned it off when I left you, but I found it again. Make her happy Jack".
Jack put the strap around his shoulders and checked the tuning, adjusting the tuning pegs when necessary. as the crowd hushed his fingers began to pick out a familiar tune.
As Jack sang the words and picked the melody, Elizabeth teared up at the precious song, the same song she and Nathan danced to the night before he left. At first she thought she wouldn't be able to listen, but as she listened to the words she began to understand the meaning.
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
She was the Beautiful Dreamer, and her heart had awakened.