CHAPTER 9

Abgail and Clara made snacks and everyone ate on the lawn of Elizabeth's new house, Rose, Clara, Abgail and other ladies, all were united helping to set up her new house. Furniture was being loaded and assembled by the men, I carried it, but always from afar and I only helped when she wasn't around, I noticed that she didn't want me around, that she felt strange in my presence and that bothered me. I had the impression that I was missing something. At the end of the day, I saw the last wagon leaving the germinated house, it looked at the house at the door, it seemed to say a prayer of thanks. I saw her crying as she locked the door, her scarf fell off and as she bent down I noticed that she had a gun under her jacket, she straightened up and got on her horse… strange… why a pregnant widow, teacher, why did she carry a gun?

A few days passed and I didn't see Elizabeth anymore, she took a week off from school and Rose was teaching. I arrived very early as I was always doing and started cutting firewood for school very quickly, when Rose arrived from I don't know where she is questioned me:

- So it's you? You who chop the wood and light the fire?

- Yes; was his only response.

- Why didn't you say that to Elizabeth, at first she was terrified, but then she got used to it. You know, before it was Jack who did this for her, and then Bill, no he had to travel and it continued to happen.

- Well, first she doesn't like me or my presence, I didn't want to impose my presence on her, I'm not Jack, but I wouldn't let a pregnant woman cut and carry firewood. I've never seen it said that a teacher should light a fire or chop wood.

- Your secret will be well kept with me.

- And where is she? Philip asked, even though he already knew the answer.

- She took a week off, she needed to rest after that crazy move.

- I was wondering, isn't that house too far away and isolated for a woman alone? mainly in her state?

- We're all going to look out for her, even if she keeps saying she doesn't need it, Bill and I teach her how to shoot. Bill gave her a gun just in case. You know, I'm mountie's daughter like you. I was raised with Jack, we got engaged and then I left him, I left him for my career, I know everything about riding and shooting, and much better than many policemen. But Elizabeth when I met her was so fragile, she was raised in a palace. Everyone already liked her but me, of course I made her and Jack's life hell for a while. Then I saw that they couldn't live without each other. Everything came, the good things about the marriage, the baby, death, everything. When we started the house I told Bill that I would teach her to shoot, after all this is where she learned to cook, to ride a horse, to pump water, so shooting would be easy and so we did and I'm proud of our work, so if she needs to defend herself until we get there, you can be sure she will. She is the strongest woman I know.

The following week, Philip was up on the hill and noticed a strange movement next to the school. He had already left the fire on, it must have been a student who arrived earlier. He decided to leave, waiting a bit, because his horse was drinking water from a puddle at the source and so, looking at the school, he saw the teacher Elizabeth arriving and entering the school. She had come walking, she shouldn't have been fit to ride a horse. Which for me I didn't even think I should do anymore, due to her gestation that was already advanced.

I was wandering in thought, that's when I saw someone near the firewood entering through the back door and another person entering through the front door of the school and closing the door. I took the horse and went as fast as possible, I never imagined going down that hill at that speed, but my fear for her was great, arriving at the school I looked out the window and I could see two men holding Elizabeth on the ground, she was lying down, one of the men laughing and holding her arms above her head and another man between her legs sitting and running his hands over her face, which was now pale with despair, she was crying a lot, when I noticed I saw marks on her face and it made me turn into a beast . When I went in through the back I saw Bill arrive and I showed him what was going on inside, we entered together, Bill took the one holding her arms, while I took the other one who was trying to lift her skirt. Punches, punches, and more punches, the more I hit, the more I wanted to hit. There was a big bear inside of me, wanting to avenge what they did to her. When I realized he was almost passed out, I put the handcuffs on him and Bill took over taking the two men outside to arrest them. I looked at Elizabeth, she was all pieces, she had dragged herself and sat on the floor, legs drawn up, hair disheveled, pale and tears in her eyes flowing nonstop. She looked like she didn't realize it was all over. I tried to call her and get close, but she was walking away, looking very scared. She didn't see anything, her gaze was blank. In two strides, I crossed the room and hugged and started smoothing her hair, running my fingers down her back in small circles. I spoke soft words and called her Bella at times. I whispered something in his ear, but I don't know where that came from. I took her in my arms, got up and went out to meet Bill, I saw a flame in his eyes, but I just said:

- I'm taking her to the infirmary, she's in shock.

In the infirmary, Dr Carson examined and sent for Abgail from his cafe.

Elizabeth just looked at nothing and kept saying it's Jack, it's Jack, and I know it's Jack, I'm not crazy...

A long time later, she passed out after so many medications, but it was necessary for her and the baby's sake. Her face had a huge bruise, from when she fell when she was thrown to the ground, but it was no longer bleeding, there were fingerprints on her neck, arms and face due to a big slap. Philip, who was in jail, looked like a caged lion, he was waiting for the stagecoach to pick up those men, there was a stagecoach that would pass by at any moment from the neighboring town and they would take advantage of the transport and the mountie. Bill stood there with a strange face.