Chapter 52 – A New Day

Tuesday morning dawned overcast and gray. It kind of fits the mood of the people in the house. Jack was up with his alarm. Nathan was up shortly afterward. As much as Jack didn't want to deal with his brother, he knew that he needed to do everything that he could to support his mother. So he quickly dressed for chores, knowing he would change again for jumping. Seeing that Nathan was almost ready, Jack went to knock on Tommy's door. When there was no answer, he went in and pulled the blanket off of Tommy. He dropped the pile of clean clothes on the mattress.

"We are leaving in no more than twenty minutes." Jack said. "I suggest if you want to eat, you get up and get dressed now."

"Leave me alone." Tommy hissed.

"Have it your way." Jack said walking out.

Jack joined Nathan in the hallway. As they went by, Jack knocked on Elizabeth's door.

"Come in." Elizabeth called.

Jack opened the door.

"I just wanted to let you know that we are heading up to eat." Jack said.

"I will be up in a moment." Elizabeth said. "I am having trouble braiding my hair."

Jack looked at Nathan who shrugged.

"Do you want some help?" Jack asked.

Elizabeth just stared at Jack in the mirror.

"You know how to braid hair?" Elizabeth asked, surprised.

"Nothing too fancy." Jack said. "But yes. I can do a few simple braids."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "A braid down the back. I keep getting messed up."

Jack walked over to Elizabeth as she pulled her hair out of the braid for the third or fourth time. Nathan watched from the doorway, a delighted grin on his face. He knew that Jack and Elizabeth had a lot of things that they still needed to work through, but he could totally see them as a couple in the future. He also knew that they would have a hard time waiting to act on the feelings they each had. Nathan had seen Jack react to Elizabeth and was sure that Elizabeth had done the same a few times. He also knew that Jack was a gentleman and would never push, but let's face it he was also a red-blooded young man and it would be hard for him to maintain a proper distance from Elizabeth the more time that they spent together. Nathan wanted them to be happy, but he was also aware of how fast things could happen. As he stood there, he said a quick prayer for the two people that he was watching knowing full well that they belonged together.

Jack smiled at Elizabeth in the mirror, took her brush and ran it through her hair a couple of times making sure it was perfectly smooth. He then picked up a comb, separated a few strands near Elizabeth's forehead as she had leaned her head back. Jack had to take a deep breath and focus on the hair in his hands and not whose hair it was. Once he released the deep breath, he found the focus he needed and then he started a braid and in no time at all, he had a tight, perfectly straight braid going down the back of Elizabeth's head. When Elizabeth had tipped her head back, she also had to close her eyes and not watch what Jack was doing, because as she looked up she was getting lost in his green eyes. She had to will her body to calm down, because him running his fingers through her chestnut locks was causing a fire in her that she had never felt before. Elizabeth loved how gentle Jack was when he was brushing her hair and the touch of his fingers on her scalp had sent electricity through her body, literally from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. As Jack moved down her head and she wasn't staring into his eyes anymore, Elizabeth opened her own eyes and watched him easily move his fingers through her hair. When he got to the bottom, Elizabeth handed him a small rubber band which he expertly wound around the tail of the braid.

"Do you have a ribbon you want to add?" Jack asked.

"No." Elizabeth said.

"Then we are done." Jack said

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I haven't had such a nice braid in a long time."

"You are welcome." Jack said with a small smirk.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Nathan asked as Jack and Elizabeth walked over to him.

"Here and there." Jack said.

Nathan just shook his head. They headed upstairs to have some breakfast. When they got up there, Gran and Charlotte were already in the kitchen and it smelled wonderful. Jack immediately went for the coffee pot, pouring him and Nathan each a travel mug.

"Elizabeth?" Jack said. "Coffee?"

"Please." Elizabeth said as she went to the fridge to pull out her creamer that Gran had picked up.

"Boys." Charlotte said. "It might rain. So you might want to consider taking the horses over to the arena to jump."

"We will see." Jack said.

"Okay, you three." Gran said. "Which do you want? Eggs and bacon or French toast?"

The two casseroles that Gran and Elizabeth had prepared the night before sat baked on warmers on the island. Nathan looked at Jack and then back at Gran.

"Can I have a piece of both?" Nathan asked.

"Sure." Gran said.

"Me too." Jack said.

"I think I will have the eggs and bacon." Elizabeth said.

"Juice?" Charlotte asked.

"Coffee is good for me." Nathan said.

"Me too." Jack said.

"I will take some orange juice." Elizabeth said. "Thank you Charlotte."

"You're welcome." Charlotte said. "JP, where is your brother?"

"I tried to wake him." Jack said. "I left his clean clothes in his room. He hissed at me to leave him alone. I told him if he wanted to eat he needed to get up."

Charlotte looked at the stairs leading downstairs.

"Char." Gran said. "Leave him be. He was told to get up when JP or Nathan knocked. It sounds like JP went above and beyond. He needs to learn the hard way."

"Missing one meal won't kill him." Nathan said.

Charlotte closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She let it out slowly.

"I know." Charlotte said. "It just isn't easy."

"Never said it would be, Char." James said, walking in.

"Hon." James said. "I will have a piece of each please."

"Coming right up." Gran said.

Charlotte poured her father some coffee before sitting down with her own plate.

"Are you boys going to jump outside?" James asked as he ate.

"We will see." Nathan said. "Either way, we will be safe."

"Okay." James said. "Let me know if you need anything."

"I will." Nathan said.

"Who braided your hair?" Gran asked, coming over to sit.

"Jack did it." Elizabeth said with a smile. "I was struggling when he knocked on my door."

"Looks good." Gran said. "I guess all that practice stuck."

Elizabeth looked at Gran confused.

"They have to braid the horse's mane and sometimes the tail for competitions, especially in some of the lower levels and equitation." Gran said. "JP hated doing it, but Laura made him practice anyway. We wondered if he ever got it or if he talked someone else into doing it."

"After Laura made me learn." Jack said. "I always did it myself."

"I am glad he was able to help." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth smiled over at Jack who blushed slightly. They had a nice breakfast. Jack and Nathan finished first. They took their dishes over to the sink.

"Dishwasher is empty." Gran said.

Jack rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher while Nathan refilled their coffees.

"We are heading out." Nathan said. "We will be down at the stable for a bit. I need to tend to Ghost."

"I will be dealing with the other horses." Jack said.

"I will be down in a bit." Elizabeth said.

"If we are not there." Jack said. "Ask any of the hands. They will point you to where we are."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

Jack and Nathan pulled their boots on and headed out. A couple moments later Jack came back.

"Elizabeth." Jack said. "If you are coming, I would bring a sweatshirt. It is a little chilly out."

"Do you want me to grab you one?" Elizabeth asked.

"No." Jack said. "I have my Coal Creek windbreaker in my locker."

"If Nathan needs one." James said. "There are extra in the closet in my office."

"Yes, Sir." Jack said.

With a nod Jack was gone again.

"Elizabeth." Charlotte said. "You okay still doing lunch?"

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I will have it ready at noon. Sandwiches with the fixings, chips, carrots and celery sticks, cucumber slices and cut up fruit."

"Thank you for doing that." James said. "It will be a great help."

"Glad to do it." Elizabeth said. "You have all been so generous to me."

"Let's go get Tommy." Charlotte said. "We have plenty to do today."

"I will help Gran clean up." Elizabeth said. "Then I will head down to the stable."

James nodded as he and Charlotte headed downstairs. Elizabeth and Gran had everything cleaned up in no time. Gran grabbed the things that she needed before taking one last look around.

"Are you okay here for a bit?" Gran asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I am going to finish my coffee and then I will grab a sweatshirt before heading down to the stable. Take your time and do what you need. Everything is under control."

"Thank you." Gran said. "I will have my cell if you need anything. I will be home before Thomas gets here. Since you have lunch under control, I think I might see if a friend can join me for a nice lunch in town."

"Enjoy." Elizabeth said. "Oh, wi-fi password before you leave."

"Thank you for remembering." Gran said.

Gran went over to the counter and grabbed the pad of paper. She wrote down two passwords.

"Wi-fi and the TV." Gran said. "Don't share with Tommy."

"Understood." Elizabeth said. "I will share it with Nathan and Jack."

Gran nodded and left the house. Elizabeth took the slip of paper, folded it and slipped it into her back pocket of her jeans. That was when she realized she didn't have her phone with her either. She knew that she should grab it just in case something happened. She was still avoiding calls from her family, but they kept calling and texting trying to figure out what was going on and to get her to respond to them. She had also had a few messages from Rosie, but mostly those were just checking in to see if she needed anything and letting Elizabeth know that Rosie was going to be in the city most of the week.

Author's Note:

As promised, I would share the recipes for things. I use to make these all the time on the farm. They are both great, but the French toast one is my favorite. They are great for large crowds, but can all be cut down.

Overnight breakfast casserole – bacon

Ingredients

6 slices center cut bacon

9 slices light bread, cubed

3 ounces 50% reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

8 large eggs

3 1/2 cups skim milk

1 1/4 teaspoons dry mustard powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Cook the bacon according to package directions. Allow to drain on paper towels and then chop or crumble into smaller pieces.

Mist a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the bread cubes across the surface of the dish and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly across the bread cubes. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, mustard powder, salt and pepper until combined and smooth. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and cheese. Sprinkle with the crumbled bacon. Cover with plastic cling wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you plan to bake. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Uncover the casserole and bake for 50-60 minutes or until the casserole seems mostly set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting to serve. Cut into 8 pieces.

Overnight French toast casserole

Ingredients

1 loaf sourdough bread

8 eggs

2 c milk

1/2 c heavy cream

3/4 c sugar

1 TB vanilla

Topping

1/2 c flour

1/2 c brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 c butter cold, cut into pieces

Instructions

Cut loaf into cubes and place evenly in a greased 9x13 pan.

In a bowl, mix together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread.

Cover your pan with Saran Wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Mix together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.

Cut in butter with this mixture until crumbly and place in a Ziploc bag and refrigerate overnight as well.

Take pan and Ziploc out when ready to bake. Sprinkle crumbly mixture evenly over the bread.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on how soft you like it.