Chapter 36

Julie slowly stepped into the jail. Reed looked up and noticed her standing by the door. While her hair was redder than Elizabeth's, she certainly had the look of the other Thatcher women. He figured she must be one even if she didn't slam the door like the others.

"Ma'am, may I help you?"

"Yes sir. I would like to speak with Mr. Thatcher."

"And you are?"

"I'm his youngest daughter, Julie."

"Yes ma'am. Before I do, do you have any weapons or contraband? Sorry, I have to ask." Reed stated apologetically.

"No sir, I do not." Julie nodded her head understanding it was his job.

Reed nodded. "Ma'am, if you will follow me to the small room, I will bring Mr. Thatcher to you. He will be leaving soon for Medicine Hat.

"Thank you, Constable Reed." Julie read his name tag on his shirt.

William watched his youngest daughter speak with the constable then disappear into the small room. A few seconds later, he watched the same constable come out of the room and walk toward him.

"Mr. Thatcher, this young lady would like to speak to you. I will stay in the room with you, but I will remain in the corner so you two may have some sort of privacy. Please sir, follow me."

Technically, he wasn't allowed to leave William alone with a visitor except for his personal lawyer. He was staying for that reason, but there was another reason. When he escorted Julie into the room, she quietly asked him to stay. She was a little concerned about how her father was going to react to her big news. She knew he wasn't a fan of Tom. She also knew her father wouldn't lash out physically. Now, with everything that's happened, she thought he might explode. After learning everything that her father had done, she wasn't sure what her father was capable of. It just wouldn't hurt to have a constable present.

Reed escorted William to the seat that was across from Juie. "Hello dear." He stated to his youngest daughter as she watched him intently. William's voice was a little broken with all the events of the past few days. This was the first time in Julie's life that she didn't see her father as a strong man.

Constable Reed stood in the corner opposite William. He wanted to be able to read Williams facial expressions.

"Hello father. Are you well?"

William shrugged his shoulders. "I've been better, I guess. Did you just arrived?"

"No, we have been here for a few days. We have just been sitting back with everything that has been going on." Julie paused for a few moments. "Father, why?"

William was a little taken back by his youngest daughter. Unlike the last time they had a big discussion, this time she was calm. She wasn't emotional or distant. It was almost like she was resolved or determined in herself. He couldn't put his finger on it. He studied her for a moment. She wasn't displaying any of her tells when she is bluffing or hiding something.

"Wait…you said we? Who is with you?"

"We'll get to that in a moment, father. Why? Why did you do all of this?"

"I didn't do any…"

"Father!" Julie stated in a determined, yet tired voice. "We all know. It's not a secret any longer. Everyone knows what you did to the sawmill. Did you really do all of that just to get Elizabeth to marry Charles so he could run the company some day?"

"No."

Julie stood with the determination of a Thatcher. She placed her right hand on her hip just like her mother and Elizabeth. "Father, if you lie to me one more time, I will walk out the door and you will never see me again. This ends now!" She calmed herself for a moment. "I do think that was the first time you have ever lied to me."

William dropped his head. The fact that everyone knew was really weighing on him. He was hoping against hope to keep his family out of this. He always had a small sliver of hope that he could get out of this, but Mr. Lewis' discussion yesterday made it all too clear that he wasn't a possibility. He just hoped it would be with as little fanfare as possible.

While still standing, Julie repeated her question. "Did you really do all of that just to get Elizabeth to marry Charles so he could run the company some day?"

William let out a slow, long breath. "Dear, please…" William waved toward her chair. Julie had always been a little rebellious and standoffish, but this felt different to William. It didn't feel like a teenage rebellion. It felt like a young woman who didn't understand the situation. She was demanding answers so she could understand. It was the first time he thought of Julie as a young woman.

Julie remained standing. She remembered Tom's words in her ear. Be respectful, he's your father but be firm. She knew she couldn't just fly off the handle like the old Julie.

"Yes and no." William finally stated when he noticed Julie wasn't going to sit down. "I always thought Charles would make a good replacement for me when I would eventually retire."

"Is that why you pushed Charles onto Elizabeth?"

"Julie, you know that relationship. They have always been good around each other. They have been best of friends most of their lives. They have grown up together. They have always been friends. No one pushed Charles on Elizabeth. They were always together."

"Isn't that the important thing, father? They were just friends. Elizabeth said they never courted."

"Look back on their relationship Julie…are you saying that wasn't courting?"

"I thought they have but Elizabeth is adamant that they didn't. You marry for love father not friendship."

"What they have is love. It wasn't simple friendship. All the time they spent together. All the walks, the dances, and the dinners. It wouldn't have taken too much for it to grow into a marriage kind of love."

"Maybe more than you think it takes." Julie finally sat down in her chair. Reed watched intently. He was a little impressed with this young woman. She was being respectful, but very determined.

"You can't force anyone to fall in love. It does seem like you pushed Charles for business purposes."

"I didn't do that! I do admit that it was a nice by product of their relationship. But your mother and I have always thought they were good for each other. We still do."

"Mother is coming around to seeing Jack as Elizabeth's husband." William flinched a little at the statement. He just wasn't open to that arrangement. "Like it or not, Elizabeth will marry Jack Wednesday."

"I don't like it."

"And as a result, you have brought damage to our family. You are arrested and will serve time in jail somewhere. You have caused division in our family. You have brought disgrace to us all."

"Julie…"

"Am I wrong?"

William could only shake his head. She wasn't wrong, but he didn't like admitting to it.

"You forgot that we are family and not your employees. You were so used to getting your way at work, that you thought you were entitled to that everywhere else in your life. But father, we are not your employees. We have our own thoughts and desires. You and mother have guided us and taught us. You must let us live our lives, to make our mistakes and to learn from them."

"Like you?"

"Yes, like me. I was a spoiled teen. I fought against you and mother because you tried to control everything in my life. I rebelled just to rebel."

"And did you learn from your mistakes?" The tone was a little too fatherly.

"I did." Julie sat up straighter. "I'm still learning because of the things you and mother taught me as a child. I'm enrolled in college that begins in the fall."

"Really?" A surprised William asked.

"I did. See, our mistake in life isn't life threating. As a matter of fact, I would say those mistakes are what makes us…us. We learn from them, and we grow. Just like you and Janice."

"What?"

"Father, we all have heard how you asked Janice out instead of mother. You learned from that mistake. You made mistakes in your business that you learned from. Some of those mistakes were simple mistakes that were easily repaired. Some of those mistakes were huge mistakes that took you time and great effort to repair. The most important thing was that you learned from those mistakes. I am learning from mine

"I'm proud of you dear." William was proud of Julie. She seemed like she has matured since leaving home. He can't remember a time when she spoke like this. "What are you studying in college?"

"Fashion design. I want to create fashion."

"That's perfect for you."

"I agree. I think that is my path in life."

William nodded his head in agreement. He was happy to see that Julie was taking steps to do something productive with herself.

"I have also found another path in my life."

"That's great."

"You won't like it, but it is already done."

"What's that sweetheart?"

Julie turned the ring around on her fourth finger on her left hand. She placed it on top of the table. "I'm no longer Julie Thatcher."

…

"I can't believe you told JJ that story!" Elizabeth's shock was evident in her voice. "You don't have to tell him every bad story about me."

"Sure I do." Grace smiled. "It's a mother's right."

"She's right, Elizabeth. Mrs. Thatcher has that right as your mother."

"I like it!" JJ exclaimed. "Do you have any other stories?"

"Of course you like it…and not now." Stated Elizabeth as she tickled JJ's sides lightly. "I'm pulling the mommy card. You need to go outside and play."

"Awe man." JJ whined a little. He really did love hearing the old stories of Elizabeth's childhood. For some reason, it just made him laugh. "I love you mommy." He reached up and kissed Elizabeth on the cheek.

Elizabeth lovingly watched her boy run out of the room. Normally, she would call out for him not to run in the house, but she was just lost in his cuteness. She couldn't take her eyes off him. He just drew her in completely each day.

Grace smiled at her daughter. "There is a special bond between a mother and child."

"There is, but I also have learned that a child may be yours even if you didn't give birth to him or her."

"I have never really thought of it that way, but while looking at you, I honestly believe it."

"Thanks mother."

"Now, Wednesday's the wedding date. We need to plan a Bridal party for the ladies." Grace stated. Elizabeth was a little surprised with her mother's willingness to plan such an event. Grace may not have been in complete agreement with Jack and Elizabeth, she was growing to the idea. She was trying to be good with it.

…

"How much of this should we get out?" Mr. P asked.

Mr. P and Mr. Johnston, plus another two young men, were at Mr. Johnston's stream looking over the beautifully colored river rock. This was the section that Jack liked so much. There were three sections along Mr. Johnston's property that contained the river rock, but this was the one Jack always talked about.

"Constable Thornton mentioned that he would like to go up five feet on the front wall of the home. If he stays with the drawing he showed me, we need to get three wagons full. That would give us a little left over for a flowerbed somewhere in the front yard. My wife demanded that we get enough for that.

"Elizabeth would love that." Mr. P stated.

The two younger men waded into the cold water stream to start picking up the rock. Mr. P and Mr. Johnston stayed on the bank placing the rock in the wagon. The work was going well. Mr. P noticed the rock would change color when it dried.

"That's interesting." Mr. P nodded toward the rocks that were already on the wagon. "They slightly change color when they are dry. They're not as bright as when dry."

"It's pretty."

"Absolutely."

Mr. Johnston smiled. "Can you imagine, when it's raining outside, the rock will be one color and when it's dry, it will change color just a little?"

"That will be very unique."

"Yes. Their house will always be changing color to some degree. I'm a little curious to see how it looks as it transitions after a rain or when it begins to rain. I wonder if it will look like a rainbow effect."

"I wonder how the cold and snow will affect it." Mr. P asked.

"That'll be interesting to see. I believe their home will be a visual showcase."

"Their house will constantly be changing colors a little."

"Yeah…I thought the constable was crazy doing this, but I think it will be very different."

"And Elizabeth will like the matching flower bed."

"I only know Constable Thornton. I have only met Ms. Thatcher once. I just don't know her. I hear good things about her, but we just haven't had the chance to meet her more than that one time."

"We are kind of the same with Jack. My wife and I have known Elizabeth her whole life. We are only getting to know Jack over the last couple of days."

"We really like Jack. He often stops and checks on us, especially if we miss church. He has even stopped and helped me with some things. My wife has him convinced that I'm old and need help."

"He doesn't think that. He is just trying to stay out of trouble with your wife." Both men laughed.

"That makes him a smart man."

…

"Julie…you didn't! Who?"

Reed took a step to close the distance between them. While William didn't yell, the look in his eyes changed. Reed could see that he was about to explode.

"Tom. I married Tom Thornton. "I'm a Thornton now."

"Never!"

"Sir." Reed stated in a calm voice. "Lower your voice." He commanded.

Willliam coldly stared at this young man in a red serge. "Who says?" He challenged this young man.

"I did, sir." Reed took a step closer, never shrinking from William's outburst. "I will not say it again. If you raise your voice once again, this meeting will end."

William stared at him. He quickly understood that this man couldn't be intimidated. "Fine." He huffed. He turned his attention back to his youngest daughter.

"Julie…why did you run off and marry that man? You have ruined your life."

"No father, I haven't. For the first time, I have found my purpose."

"And that purpose is to marry that Thornton boy?"

"Tom is part of that purpose." Julie spent the next few minutes explaining to her father just like she did to her mother about the circumstances of her asking Tom to come and get her. She also shared her story with Elizabeth challenging her to find her purpose in her life instead of just chasing boys.

William listened to his youngest daughter. Many things she stated made sense and he would have been happy with it if it wasn't for that it was that Thornton boy. He shook his head in disbelief.

"I can't believe you did that. Maybe we can get it annulled."

"Father, we have been married about a week. We have no grounds to get it annulled." Julie couldn't hide her little smirk. "Even if there were grounds, we are not doing that. I am a happily married woman who would do it all over again in a moment's notice."

"I can't believe I have lost my family." William whispered.

Julie stood and moved to push her chair to the table. She stood behind the chair and took a deep breath. "Father, you haven't lost your family yet. However, if you continue to push us away, you most certainly will. I have chosen my path for my life just like Elizabeth has. This is our journey and we have happily chosen it. It's not evil or criminal. We are in love and have chosen to follow our hearts. You are the one who chose a path that is destructive. You caused a lot of pain in the lives of the people that you love and even in the lives of people you don't even know.

"What this all comes down to is the fact that you are not in control. You weren't getting your way in our lives. Instead of speaking to us, you tried to dictate our futures. Charles with Elizabeth and Lionel's boring cousins with me. I know I haven't handled myself very well over the last few years, but father, I am not that silly little child any longer. I may not be living my life the way you want me to, but I am living my life. For the first time, I have a purpose and I am grateful I have a loving man who helps me walk that path. Make no mistake about it, you will decide for yourself if you lose your family."

With that, she walked around the small table and gave her father a kiss on his left cheek. She looked up at Reed and nodded her head in appreciation. She mouthed the words 'thank you'. Reed looked down with a very small grin. After Julie left the room, Reed gave William a few moments to think. He looked lost in his thoughts.

Finally, Reed took three steps toward William. He extended his arm for William to stand.

"Well, since you are out of your cell, do you need to go to the outhouse?"

"Might as well."

"You know sir, she wasn't wrong."

"Which part?"

"All of it. It's your decision now. You will pay a price for your actions, but your family isn't lost to you yet unless you continue this journey you are on with your attitude. You have brought this on with your own actions. No one coerced you into doing this."

William nodded his head in agreement. The mountie wasn't wrong. He stood thinking about his conversation with Julie. "That's the oddest thing…Julie was always the lost one, the wild child if you will."

"She isn't lost any longer, sir. You are."

William looked into this young man's face for just a second before turning to walk out of the room without saying a word.

…

"Mayor Abagail…Mayor Abagail…" Jack tried to get his honorary sister's attention. She was just staring at the piece of paper Jack handed her with a blank expression. "Abagail!"

Abagail finally looked up from the piece of paper. She stared at Jack for a moment and then turned her attention back to the piece of paper. All she could read was the first line at the top of paper, Thomas Jack Thornton.

Jack could easily see the shocked expression on Abagail's face. He couldn't help but grin like a little brother who got one on his older sister. He gave her plenty of time to process what she was looking at. He didn't try to capture her attention.

After a few minutes of just sitting there, Abagail finally was able to look away from the piece of paper. She looked up into the eyes of Jack.

"Jack…"

"Abagail. I would like to apply for the position of sheriff for Hope Valley."

"Jack…are you sure?"

"I am."

"Have you talked to Elizabeth about this?" She held up Jack's resume.

"We have talked in depth about it this morning."

"She's ok with this?"

"Yes and no." He chuckled at her confused expression. "We spoke about it this morning. Ultimately, she said it's my decision."

"What was her stance on this?"

While it wasn't proper for Abagail to ask such questions, Jack knew she wasn't being mean in asking. She was basically family and knew Jack and Elizabeth very well. He was comfortable with her questions because of their relationship.

"Her initial stance was that I should remain a mountie. That I should go on my temporary assignment so I wouldn't bring any unwarranted issues with me career."

"That must have been very hard for her."

"It was." He smiled knowing that Elizabeth was putting him first. "She wasn't happy that I was considering leaving."

"Does Elizabeth know what you are doing?"

"Not really. I made my mind up days ago. Elizabeth was nervous that I would hold this against her if I left the mounties. She wanted me to stay. She didn't want to push me either way, but she did have her opinion. I'm supposed to tell her for certain after we meet."

"Jack that doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you keep this from her?"

"Abagail, I promise I'm not keeping anything from her. "Let me begin from the beginning."

"Please."

"Both you and Elizabeth know how much I love being a mountie. It's all I have ever wanted to do."

"How can you walk away from it so easily?"

"It isn't easy. Do you know why I wanted to be a mountie?"

"I always assumed it was to follow in your father's footsteps."

"That's what she thought too. To be honest, that's a good part of it, but I want to help people who may not be able to help themselves. To prevent bad people from hurting good people?"

Abagail smiled at Jack's reasoning. She could easily see that in him.

"We talked about the pros and cons of remaining a mountie. They lied to me about not being assigned to other places. When I picked up JJ, Superintendent Jackson told me that I wouldn't have to leave for more than a couple of days. He didn't pick me for Buxton for this assignment, but he approved it. I'll be gone for six to eight weeks, maybe even longer. If they could break that promise to me this time, what would stop them from doing it again?

"You know the story of JJ. He suffered a horrible loss. I know how hard it was to lose one parent, I can't imagine losing both parents at the same time. He has adjusted well, but he still struggles at times. His support group is growing with you and Elizabeth, but he is still a little boy. Now, the mounties demand that I leave because they think I am the right person to help in Buxton.

"When JJ entered my life when Elizabeth was in Hamilton, it didn't take long for that little boy to capture my entire heart. Steve and Joy did an amazing job at raising that precious little boy. He honestly feels like my son. I don't think of him as any other way except my boy."

"He really has captured all our hearts." Abagail smiled at the thought of JJ.

"He just has a way of doing that. I know what it means to grow up without a father, and I don't want JJ to lose me too."

"But Jack, being a sheriff is dangerous too."

"It is, but I'm not running over all of Canada chasing an unknown bad guy. Here, I will mostly be dealing with people I know. Even then, it still carries dangers. The major difference is that I will be home every night. I won't have to leave him for days, weeks, or months at a time. My desires have changed since he came into my life. I want to be a dad that is present. He deserves that."

"I understand that Jack. I really do. But how does being a sheriff replace your lifelong dream of being a mountie?"

"It doesn't, but I am a mountie. I have fulfilled that dream. Now my dream has changed."

"How so?" Abagail tilted her head.

"Well, If you hire me as a sheriff, I will still be able to help good people. I can keep bad people from hurting good people."

"That's true." Whispered Abagail. "What do you mean that your dream has changed?"

"When JJ stayed with me the first night, my new dream began to grow. I never thought I would be a father. After all, if the mounties wanted me to be married, they would have issued me a wife."

Abagail laughed. "I think I have heard that silly phrase once or twice."

"That was pretty dumb, wasn't it?" Jack shook his head in disbelief. "However, there is a bit of truth to that statement. I remember my father being gone for so much of my life. He was gone months at a time. It was hard on him, my Ma, and me and Tom. It's not an easy life. Especially for a five year old boy who already lost his Ma and Pa. If I'm gone for weeks or months at a time, why would I put him through that?"

All of this was making sense to Abagail. Jack's thoughts were reasoned out and thought through. He spoke with conviction.

"What about Elizabeth's thoughts on this?"

"Well, that's where things get a little complicated. First, when I took JJ into my home and quickly into my heart, Elizabeth was just a memory of a lost love. When she came back, I was very hesitant. I just didn't trust her."

"I remember. I do believe she has changed your mind."

"She absolutely has. She won me over. I always loved her. She wants me to remain a mountie. She said that she would move into the row house with JJ so he could still be home if I left. We would be married when I come back."

"So, why not do that?"

"I want to be married now and I have zero desire to leave my family for that length of time. Elizabeth finally won me over and chose me. That was the first time I truly felt that she picked me without hesitation. All the other times it didn't feel that way. This time was just different. My heart completely opened to her. Just like JJ, she captured it wholly. I can't imagine being away from her for any length of time, and we aren't even married yet. She ultimately conceded on my reasoning, but she still thinks I should be a mountie."

"I can see her making that sacrifice for you."

"I agree."

"So, why do it?"

"I do not want to leave my family. I want to be a father and husband that's around. I don't want to look back on my children's lives and miss so much time with them. My father missed so much of Tom's and my life. Then he was taken away from us at such a young age. I want to give JJ and any potential children the opportunity to get to know their father."

"Has Elizabeth reconciled that you may leave the mounties?"

"That's where she struggles. Then she realized my desire of being a mountie has changed to my desire of being a husband and father. I can be a husband and father and still protect good people. She's a little hesitant about me leaving the mounties, but she does understand my reasoning."

Jack and Abagail sat in silence for a few minutes. He was giving Abgail the opportunity to catch up on the discussion they were having. She agreed that Jack could still help people as a sheriff. He was making a lot of sense, but she still felt like Elizabeth. Jack needed to remain a mountie.

"Elizabeth listened to everything I just told you. She understood what I meant, but she still ultimately thinks I should remain a mountie."

"I think I agree with her."

"But she also realizes that I made some good points. That my decision wasn't just based on something frivolous. After some more discussion this morning, she told me that in the end it was my job and my choice. That I need to be happy with my decision. She wasn't going to force her opinion on my life. She is just afraid that I will regret my decision."

"Do you think you will?"

"No. I will not regret fulfilling my dream of helping people and being present for my family." Jack's voice was confident. Abagail knew that tone very well. Jack saw the moment that she accepted his reasoning. It was at the same time in the discussion that Elizabeth accepted it too. "This is what I want, and Elizabeth is in support of me and not just my profession. She said that if this is why I want to do it, she will support me. Whatever I chose to do."

"You are a grown man with a good head on your shoulders. I can't make you do anything you don't want to."

"That is exactly what Elizabeth said. She said she didn't want to know my final decision until I spoke to you."

"Have you made up your mind?"

"I did days ago."

Abagail looked at Jack for a few moments and then turned her eyes back to Jack's resume. She never read further than the first line that contained his name. She looked back up at Jack.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Abagail. I am certain this is what I want. I would like to be considered for the position of sheriff for Hope Valley. I know you have other people that will be interested when you post the position. I have six weeks remaining with the mounties. I actually have eight weeks, but I have two weeks of vacation. I plan on taking a week for our honeymoon. I'm officially appealing my temporary assignment. That will buy me four weeks before my hearing in front of three superiors. Until my hearing, I am to remain at my current assignment. When that is settled, If I win the appeal, I will remain here. If I lose my appeal, I may have to leave for one or two weeks. Depends on how the Superior Board handles it. They may dismiss the assignment since I would only have about one to two weeks left in my service. They may make me go out of spite."

"So, you and Elizabeth are getting married Wednesday?"

"We are. If I were to leave on the assignment, Elizabeth said she would want to wait to get married. She had no desire to be married for one day and then I would leave for eight weeks. Since I'm appealing my assignment, we can get married and still have time for our honeymoon."

Abagail took a moment to look at her little brother. Everything he said made perfect sense. She knew Jack didn't make snap decisions out of emotions or wants. He has thought these things through. Elizabeth's stance on not wanting to be married for one day and then Jack leave for weeks made sense. The decision of them getting married since he is leaving the mounties made sense too. Why wait if you didn't have too? She looked deep into her brother's eyes for a quick moment. She found exactly what she was looking for…contentment in his eyes.

"Jack, you're hired."

"Abagail, you haven't even read my resume or looked at other resumes."

"Jack, you're hired."

"Abagail, I don't want you to hire me because we are family."

"Jack, I am the mayor. Are you really questioning my decision?" She playfully smirked. "You…Are…Hired…!"