CHAPTER 19
Elizabeth, I didn't know where it hurt the most, it felt like I had been trampled by several angry horses. Her head was starting to hurt, and she knew that only happened when she was nervous and anxious. She felt a shiver, as if someone was looking at her...
She had no idea that there, behind the Charles Spurlok church, she observed everything with greater joy; He was so pleased to see the fear of that woman inside the school, when he noticed the snakes. He had to admit "she was smart, she quickly noticed the animals and which animal was there. "But what Charles never expected was that this woman would be brave enough to jump out of a window that high... but now, she was lying there, all bruised or in pain and would be easy prey for him...
And so Charles got up and started to leave his hiding place, when he heard a scream;
-Lady Thornton! Mrs. Thornton!
Charles saw a young man running to meet Elizabeth Thorton. The boy looked at her, talked to her and listened to her explanation. She had blood on her arms and face and when the young man tried to help her get up, she couldn't stay up.
She sent him for help, and Charles saw the young man running. He would take advantage of the moment and end her, and that would be the perfect revenge against Jack Thorton, when he used that little body of hers, he was sure that Jack would turn over in his grave. That city would be surprised, when he found that woman dead, he would laugh. Charles.
But again he heard that young man screaming and running back to school.
-Lady Thornton! Mrs. Thornton!
He came close and said:
-I can't leave you here alone. I went, but when I got to that climb, I felt like someone told me to go back and not leave you alone. I might be crazy, but I heard mountie Jack saying, that a mountie doesn't leave a person in danger.
-But Robert, I can't walk...
-Come; stand up! And bending down in front of her, Robert ordered her to climb onto his back.
Elizabeth didn't know if he would be able to carry her, but she couldn't disappoint him, as he was acting overprotective.
Elizabeth did as she was asked.
Blood from his hands stained Robert's white shirt. She noticed that the boy was tired, but he didn't accept her words and continued on his way slowly.
Elizabeth, knew of Robert's dream of being a mountie like Jack and Nathan, and now she was sure he would be a great mountie. That boy already had a sense of justice and respect for life and health, embedded in his blood...
From afar Nathan, Bill and Lee saw Robert carrying someone. They began to walk quickly and then run, seeing their difficulty, When Nathan shouted:
-It's Elizabeth!
All three men ran and helped; thus removing the burden and weight from Robert's shoulders. They looked at Elizabeth, all injured, she was pale and a trickle of blood was running from her head. They got together and Nathan picked her up and they ran to the infirmary.
Before being treated, she called Nathan and said:
-Nathan, someone locked me inside the school, there are three rattlesnakes inside, and they were more agitated than normal, that's why I jumped out the window to escape. But I didn't think it would be that high. She grimaced in pain, looking down, she was ashamed of having fallen like that.
-Love, it's okay; Bill and I are going to take care of the snakes in a bit. If they are locked there, they pose no danger to anyone else.
-Sorry Nathan. But I'm not very brave, especially when it comes to snakes. Jack saw this and now I make you feel the same shame...
Nathan held her face with both hands, kissed her face and lips and smiled:
-You are the bravest woman I have ever seen; She was trapped inside with the snakes, held back her fear and even jumped out of such a high window. I am so proud of you, my beautiful bride.
-Good thing Robert was arriving at school and saw everything. I would never have imagined that he would be able to carry me.
-He's becoming a good man, Elizabeth.
Carson came in with Faith, they would do all the exams at Elizabeth, while the men would go to school. Elizabeth was worried about Robert and asked Carson to examine him and see if he hadn't hurt himself carrying his full weight.
-Robert! I need your help.
-Yes mountie Nathan...Whatever you need. Robert felt great as a mountie asked him for help.
-I need you to watch over and protect Mrs. Thorton until I return from school. We're going to capture those snakes.
-Yes sir...I'll be here.
Nathan noticed the bloodstains on Robert's clothes. His bride's blood, he would search until he found who had done that to her. She would not accept, today or ever, someone hurting her.
Bill, Nathan, and Lee went to school; they knew from Elizabeth's details, that they made a great rattling noise, and that it grew louder and louder, and they moved rapidly in the darkness of the room.
Lee told them that he could not imagine a single person in that city, with evil or such a bad heart, to do something like that to Elizabeth.
-I don't admit that! She is such a kind, sweet person. Who could think of hurting her like that? Bill, I was very nervous. He looked like an angry bee, ready to sting.
-I don't know, Bill, but I'm going to find out, who dared to scare her and hurt her like that. I won't let anyone hurt my Lizbeth.
They arrived at the church and saw the window open. She had jumped from the highest window. The door was locked. Nathan climbed up the side until he reached the window and, using a flashlight, shone light in some places inside the school. Everything was in complete silence, but when the light illuminated a corner, close to Elizabeth's table, Nathan, right there, noticed the size of the snake that soon began to make noise with its rattle, it became more and more agitated, that snake it was not normal; Normally they would only get agitated like this when you messed with them, like when they felt in danger, or someone kept them captive so that at the slightest contact with light or noise they would start to attack.
-Bill, there are five snakes. At least that I saw. I see one under the table, one near the window, there are two curled up next to the stove, one is on top of the wood and the other below the stove opening, and the last one I see is on the door, you go to open the door and She's going to pounce, you're going to be face to face with her.
They agreed on how to act. Nathan would shoot the two closest to him and Lee and Bill would enter, killing the one by the door and the two by the stove. No one could make a mistake, because if one of them ran away they would attack one of them. There could be no mistake. And so they did.
None of them liked killing animals, normally they captured and released the animals in some nearby area, but those snakes were extremely dangerous, and their agitation could put someone's life at risk.
Bill, warned Nathan that he would investigate the place. Meanwhile Lee cleaned the school and collected the dead animals. Lee showed Nathan, the snakes...They all had a wire with several small spikes like a nail, which made wounds on their body whenever they moved or touched their rattle. Someone put that on the animals so that they would become more agitated and attack Elizabeth.
Nathan looked at the place where Elizabeth fell, there was a mark on her body and blood. And there are the marks of Robert's shoes...
-Nathan come here! Bill shouted.
Bill, had found shoe marks, size 44, it was from a tall adult man and it wasn't them as no one there had that size shoe, and based on the shape of the mark the person was in good physical shape which made the footprint deeper, They were in several places, and the bags where the snakes and horse legs should have been transported were also found. And that wouldn't be a side that any of them would be following on horseback, at least in the last few days.
-Nathan! This was premeditated; See, someone was here.
-Bill, I don't like this. I don't have a good feeling.
Lee showed up and they agreed to go and see how Elizabeth was doing, and later they would sit down and calmly analyze everything.
Carson examined Robert, at Elizabeth's insistence. She still didn't realize that her student was no longer a child but a young adult, but she wouldn't have peace until she knew that the boy was okay after carrying her, and so Carson laughingly accepted her request.
-Thank you Robert. I don't know what I would do without you;
-Lady Thorton. You don't have to thank me. I did today with the greatest pleasure, what anyone in this city would do for you. I will be there to protect you whenever you need it or when mountie Nathan is not around. I won't let anything bad happen to you, I promise...
Bill, Nathan and Lee were at the infirmary door and along with Faith, who already had tears in her eyes. Carson was smiling, and they decided to stay there and listen to everything, amazed at his love for his teacher.
That's when everyone heard Elizabeth's voice:
-Come here Robert! It was a voice that left no doubt, with a simple sentence she was asking or rather ordering.
And opening her arms, she saw Robert running and snuggling there and heard:
-Robert, I'm fine! But now for a few minutes, I'm going to hug you and you can go back to just being my boy, my little and eternal student...
Robert let his tears flow;
-I was so scared when I saw you jumping out the window... And I continued to cry.
-Shi...shi...I'm fine! my boy...