CHAPTER 39
— My God... How is this possible?
Frankison, smiled without understanding anything.
— Could someone tell me what's going on? When I arrived here in the city, I also noticed people's reactions. It felt like they were seeing a ghost...
Bill was speechless, for the first time in his life, he didn't know what to say...
— How long has it been since you saw Elizabeth?
Wynn and Frankison looked at each other and, after thinking, said that they hadn't seen each other in almost twelve years. His contact was only by letter once or twice a month.
Jack, taking his wallet out of his pocket, took out a photo and handed it to his mother. She also had her mouth open, looking at the photo and at Frankison.
Wynn, unable to wait any longer, took the photo and looked at it. It was their wedding photo, and she was...
And looking at Frankison, he handed him the photo and waited for his reaction. The boy looked from Wynn to Jack. "HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE; SHE WAS..."
She was her female version, the same hair and the same smile, the same face and even the same blue eyes...
- Father! Frankison, said with tears streaming down his face.
Wynn looked at Bill when Jack said:
— Elizabeth, you told me the story of your birth and how everything happened with your sister. Knowing all of William Thatcher's evil, I...
—Speak, what are you thinking, young man, said Wynn.
— Will... I say will. And if Willian... would he be unable to change the children?
— I think it's unlikely that the cousins would come out as identical as these two. Bill said.
— I also agree with you, Bill. Charlotte was amazed at how much these two young people looked alike.
— I'll find out, but first let's find this girl. Wynn was angry, but Jack saw something in his eyes; That man was intrigued by this whole story, and he wasn't going to back down until he discovered the whole truth.
They started following the tire tracks. By the time Charles had kidnapped her, they were at least two hours ahead of her or more. Frankison was a lieutenant, he was a mountie tracker, and Jack once again thanked God for placing qualified people to help him save his wife. After walking a path, Jack noticed something on the ground that was shining in the sun's rays and, dismounting, he went to check it. It was a little pearl. He took it and put it in his pocket, as it reminded him of his wife's outfit.
A little further on, Bill found another pearl and shortly after Frankison found the third.
— Jack, are you sure this could be hers? Frankison asked.
- Yes I have...
— Dad, she's marking the way. Remember, when we used to play save the damsel, near the lake in Hamilton; She always threw something that shined on the ground, so that I would find it... She said, that there would always be a path of light, that would lead to her. And she still says this in her letters.
— Let's go that way. Maybe this man needed to stop her, somewhere nearby, after all she was injured.
The pearls, including the earrings, were found; they led towards a fork in the road, which headed towards the forest that was part of that mountain. Jack and Frankison followed together, while the others took other routes.
There was a cabin in that area, they could see smoke coming from a chimney. They split up so that each one arrived on one side of the cabin.
Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Charles had released Elizabeth's hands and gag so she could feed. But she was stubborn, and didn't want to accept anything. She no longer complained or said anything and that was already unnerving Charles. He never accepted this from anyone, and it wouldn't be this woman, who would snub him. And so, he decided that he would start right then and there to show her, who her husband was now.
Charles came close to her and held her shoulders and speaking, looking straight into her eyes, made it clear that he was now in charge of her life, that she belonged to him and that at that moment she would become his wife and soon his wife.
Elizabeth screamed and tried to get out of Charles' arms; The fear increasingly affects him.
— I'm already married Charles. My husband, Jack Thorton, will pick me up. Leave me...
— You are not married, Elizabeth Thatcher.
— Yes, I am. I've been a Thorton for a few days and showed her ring on her finger...
And Charles, in a fury never seen before, slapped her in the face, causing Elizabeth to fall to the ground. His face was red, his lips were bleeding, his eyes filled with tears. Charles, advancing, screamed and looked at his hands; He was moving forward, intending to rip that ring off her finger.
Elizabeth was shaking, she didn't know if she could get away from there, but she made a decision:
"IF SHE WERE TO DIE AT CHARLES' HANDS, SHE WOULDN'T LET HIM, AWAY FROM HER HUSBAND."
And raising her hand, where she had her wedding ring, with the greatest strength she could find within herself, she hit it on the edge of the table, where a dull noise was heard, when her fingers broke and her hand was hurt. He could end her life, and her dignity, but he could never take away her bond with Jack.
And finding herself grabbed by a wild and crazed Charles, she found herself being thrown onto the bed by a sick and violent man. But Elizabeth, in the midst of her prayers, asked God to send help, and cried out:
— Jack, help... Jack.
