CHAPTER 2

The policeman was importunate with Elizabeth, he took a step forward, grabbed her by the hair, pulling her to touch him, she was screaming people like crazy, she was so scared, her face was so pale. I started yelling that she was Officer Jack Thorton's widow, but they continued to laugh. Was when...

- For God's sake, Henry tells me... I'm going to have a heart attack. You made a very dramatic scene, Rosemary.

- Police officer Philip was quick, gave orders and made the officer release Elizabeth and handcuffed him, then he caught Elizabeth on the floor where the boy had thrown her, and this Philip hugged her with affection and care, began to speak something softly in her ears while stroking her hair. I saw Elizabeth calm down in front of me. You know he did just like Jack did...

- Henry, you know he's dead… this must be just a conscience, but we have that mountie Philip to thank, because he still helped our friend, said Carson.

- They released me because of him, as I saw he commands them and asked something under her, and asked me to take her home and take care of her. Henry kept saying: Elizabeth looked into his eyes and told him she loved him and would wait for him for all eternity. He replied something in a whisper that I don't know what it was, but then she fainted and I ran with her to Abgail's house, when I saw the house locked I came running to her house.

When Henry looked up, he realized that everyone was crying. Everyone was feeling that woman's pain. At that moment the door opened abruptly and Bill entered desperately:

- I was told that Elizabeth was sick and that Henry helped. How is my daughter?

- Calm down Bill, she is being medicated, thanks to Henry nothing worse happened.

Bill sat down and explained to everyone that while he was making his rounds, he saw the mountie passing through town, they until in the hall and their boss left a note pinned to the door of the police station.

- You know that Jack was a son to me, I promised to take care of her, when he went to the northern territory. But he became special to me, a real daughter and then he didn't even have to ask because I would always be there for him. I began to see in her eyes, everything she felt and in her smile I found a peace of mind that I had lost since my son died years ago.

Abigail interrupted and said:

- Bill, I understand you perfectly. You know the loss and pain of losing Noah and Peter, it was so great after that tragic death, then she showed up here, arriving so unprotected, a true princess, without her belongings and only with the clothes on her back after the stagecoach was robbed and it was received by some mothers in a frightening way, when I saw her in her fragility afraid of all of us, in front of several children, lift her dirty skirt, put a smile on her face and say I am Professor Thatcher and I am pleased to meet you and started class as if nothing had happened. A strong woman who grew up here day after day, so I know Bill, I also made her my daughter and I promised to love and care for her always.

Rosemary in her squeals and her extroverted ways cried out:

- Bill, the note... What did it say?

Bill laughed at the dramatic scene and explained that the note said that a group of mounties were going to the border to catch a gang that operated in the northern territory, but that they fled from there, putting everyone here in the region in danger of robbery and violence. against women and children, that we were supposed to keep an eye out for strangers, and try to protect the city. It also said to check on Officer Jack Thorton's widow, as she had some bad times, but that he should support her in her time of despair and pain. And at the end of the note there was still a little note saying that I would like to be able to take away this pain from your heart and your eyes, myself, I never imagined a love so pure as that. Officer Philip.

Everyone in the room gasped. When a scream of pain was heard in the room, all the women ran, Elizabeth in another one of her nightmares, struggling and screaming on the bed, Faith and Carson gave her another intravenous sedative, even though they didn't like using it, they knew that now it was necessary, and so they managed to make her sleep soundly.

The next morning, everyone was still in the living room of Elizabeth's germinal house, each one slept sitting on the floor or on the sofa, but no one had the courage to leave her alone.

Shepherd Frank arrived from the camp and also went to Elizabeth's house during the night when he heard about what happened, and commented with everyone:

- Guys, Elizabeth went through a lot, Jack's departure to the Northern Territory, almost a year waiting for him to return from the Northern Territory, then his return with all the suffering and pain that accompanied him after the war and the loss of his family. friends, the most beautiful wedding I've ever seen done all in two weeks, and that little honeymoon of only two weeks and then his death in a simple landslide training, no one ever expected something like this, so we need to pray a lot for she.

They left Faith and Rose with Elizabeth and they all went to work.

When she opened the cafe door, Abgail noticed the mess around there and ran and called Bill in jail.

- Bill, they broke into my door and took my money!

- Come on, I'll find out who did it.

So began a burglary investigation and a massive cleanup of the cafe, Abgail was exhausted after her time with Elizabeth, but Frank and Lee came over to help fix the broken things while she cleaned, anyway the cafe was her bread and butter it needed tidying up.

The days went by, everything seemed gloomy, nobody saw Elizabeth, if it wasn't at her house. Florence and Rose shared the work at school trying to replace Elizabeth and until now they didn't know how she managed to do all that alone and still enjoy it. Elizabeth was very bad, she had gone into a depression that Carson was starting to worry about, she wouldn't eat, it was just little sips or little bites, she wouldn't get out of bed, she cried day and night, she was losing faith and everyone in town was losing our teacher. The children came to visit her several times, we saw their love for each other, but she looked like a flower whose petals had withered.