CHAPTER 106

Those first rays of sunshine brought a lot of history and events into everyone's lives. Frankison noticed how Edward cared for and worried about young Malyn. She deserved every bit of care after everything she'd been through, but he was overzealous. He would hold her hand when she was about to get on or off the wagon, and he was always holding her waist to help with the weight of her pregnancy. When she wasn't eating, he always gave her a mug of water or tea. Edward even arranged the covers, making a makeshift bed on top of the wagon, so that she could lie down and get comfortable all the way to Hope Valle. Frankison rode behind their wagon and smiled to himself, seeing his friend acting like a good man was gratifying, after so many years of not seeing each other, meeting Edward and seeing what a professional mountie he had become was very nice. And it was good to know that at least he had been together with his sister for a while.

The road went slowly, another day and they would be home. He missed his parents, but he had to be true to himself and say what his heart wanted most...

''He wanted to see his sister... it felt like half of his being was incomplete. He felt like he had lost something. As if his life was off track. His sister was a precious jewel, his half"...

Edward noticed something strange about Frankison as he rode in silence beside the cart. He was pale and something was bothering him.

- Frankison! Are you all right?

- I'm fine, Edward... I mean, I think I am...

- Are you pale? Said Malyn, sitting in the wagon.

- I... I just feel strange, I'm nauseous, my stomach hurts a lot, my heart is beating fast and out of control, I'm feeling shivers down my spine. Like something bad is going to happen.

Mack and Lek joined the conversation, everyone prepared their weapons and agreed to be very careful. Malyn was ordered to lie down and not get up until they warned her, so they hurried the animals along, because they knew that the danger was greater until they reached Hope Valle, and that they would still be eating a lot of dust...

The sun was now high in the sky, casting its golden light over the landscape that stretched out before them. The dusty road seemed endless, but anxiety permeated the air. Frankison, although he tried to disguise it, was visibly uncomfortable. His fingers tightly gripped his horse's reins and his gaze, once lost in the vastness of the plain, was now focused on a distant point.

Edward, always attentive to his friend, approached Frankison and asked with concern:

- Frankison, you need some rest. Maybe it's just tiredness from the journey.

Malyn also expressed her concern, suggesting that he lie down in the wagon and rest for a while.

But Frankison refused, a serious expression on his face.

- It's not just tiredness, Edward. There's something wrong, something besides the dust and the sun. I feel as if I'm being watched, as if something is lurking in the shadows, as if a part of me is missing, my heart is tight.

The other members of the group exchanged apprehensive glances. The tension grew as they continued their journey. Frankison, despite his unease, didn't want to worry the others with his tumultuous feelings. He knew something wasn't right, but he couldn't pinpoint why.

As the wagon progressed, the landscape began to change, revealing the approach of Hope Valle. However, the feeling of apprehension persisted. Shivers ran down Frankison's spine and his mind was filled with dark thoughts.

Elizabeth stood at the school gate with a beaming smile on her face as she watched Jack walk away. That farewell had been more than just an ordinary gesture between husband and wife. It had been a tangible reminder of the love that bound them together.

She leaned on the door for a moment, lost in thought about how time had transformed their lives. Jack Thorton, the man who had made her believe in the deepest dreams of her heart, was now the husband to whom she had bidden a tender farewell. The memories of those first meetings, of the promise of a life together, were mixed with the reality of what they had lived and built.

As she watched Jack walk away, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she remembered the precious minutes they had shared before parting. His eyes, full of affection, were a window into the passionate soul she had learned to know well. The exchange of glances, the unspoken words, all contributed to creating a connection that transcended time and circumstances.

The soft touch of his hands, the way he held her tenderly, were gestures that spoke louder than any words. Elizabeth loved Jack with an intensity that overflowed in her smile, in the way her eyes sparkled at the mention of his name. He wasn't just her husband; he was the fulfillment of all the romantic dreams she had nurtured since she was young.

Now, as he walked away, Elizabeth felt a deep gratitude for every moment they had shared. Every challenge overcome, every laugh shared and even the tears shed together were testimony to the love that grew between them.

Elizabeth's love for Jack was the constant light in her life, guiding her through the ups and downs, and she was ready to face each new day alongside the one who was not only her husband, but her soulmate. The future might bring challenges, but with Jack by her side, Elizabeth knew that their love would be the source that would keep them together, overcoming any adversity.

Elizabeth closed the school door, smiling at her husband. She knew what she had been doing to him minutes ago during that farewell. She loved Jack Thorton very much and would always remind him of that love. He was the fulfillment of her dreams...

Meanwhile, in the center of Hope Valle, Jack arrived at the police station, smiling from ear to ear, remembering his wife...

"That young woman would be his undoing..."

- Jack! Good morning! I'm sorry I've only just arrived, but my wife kept me waiting to bring Elizabeth these goodies. Where is she?

- Good morning, Wynn, I dropped her off at school before I came to work. But why don't you run over there, it's still early for school to start.

- Okay! I'll go, I'll fly and I'll be right back.

Jack laughed at his father-in-law, imagining him flying... that man had the hots for his daughter. He loved her and was willing to give her everything that life had taken from him.

"... Who would have thought of the commander-in-chief, a man so formal and tough, a man considered the scariest by the bandits, and there he was wrapped around the fingers of his Elizabeth..."