Chapter 82 – Promise Rings

When Jack and Nathan turned back to the house, they didn't see Doug or Lee and figured that they had headed in while they were on the phone. Jack and Nathan headed inside. They were surprised at how wonderful the house smelled.

"It smells amazing in here." Nathan said, walking toward the kitchen.

"Thank you." Gran said. "We made cinnamon cookies."

"Yum!" Jack practically moaned.

Elizabeth couldn't help but giggle.

"Doug and Lee head downstairs?" Nathan asked.

"Yes." Gran said. "They said you both were on the phone so they were going to actually workout like planned."

"Couldn't help it." Jack said.

"Gran." Nathan said. "We will have a visitor sometime after lunch. I will explain more later. But for right now, I just wanted to let you know. You shouldn't have to do anything. He won't be here long."

Elizabeth looked at Nathan and had a look of panic. Nathan gave her a reassuring smile and she felt a little better. She was still nervous, but she realized that Jack and Nathan would keep her safe. She said a quick prayer to calm her nerves before going back to helping Gran. Jack came over to Elizabeth and gave her a quick kiss and whispered that it would be okay. Elizabeth gave him a quick kiss and calmed down. She had questions, but knew that there would be time for them later.

"I will make sure that there is coffee and cookies to offer." Gran said.

"Thank you." Nathan said.

"Go workout." Gran said. "Lunch is sandwiches so you guys can eat anytime that you want. I am sure that Charlotte and Tommy will be up at some point. James called and said he is not coming and they will bring a sandwich back for him."

"Thanks Gran." Jack said. "Give us about an hour and a half. We will shower then come up."

Jack and Nathan headed downstairs. Jack stopped and dropped their clothes in the laundry. After they changed into some workout clothes, Jack started a load of their riding gear. Once that was running, Jack headed to the gym where the other guys were already waiting. The four had fun and even Lee worked out with them. After a nice workout, they took turns showering. It helped that they were able to use two showers, so it didn't take long. Before heading upstairs, Jack hung up their riding gear and put the rest of the load in the dryer. When Jack joined the others, they all headed up together.

When the guys got upstairs, Jack pulled Elizabeth over to the sitting area while Nathan, Doug and Lee helped Gran in the kitchen.

"What is going on?" Elizabeth asked.

"A couple of things." Jack said. "Nothing bad, so please relax."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Just please talk to me. I want to know what is going on. I know that you want to protect me, but you can do that while being honest with me so I know what to expect."

"Alright." Jack said. "First, the visitor after lunch is a member of the State Police. He is going to take our fingerprints. He will enter them into a civil database. It is another layer of security. I was talking to Devin and we both agreed that Kensington might get someone to pretend to be you to get a marriage license to further try and force you to come back. The fingerprints will stop them."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I trust you and Devin. Why didn't your dad suggest that?"

"I don't know." Jack said. "I am letting Devin handle him. Devin said he is taking over your case from Dad. I guess they argued, but Devin won."

Elizabeth looked surprised.

"Devin is one of the few people." Jack said. "Other than Grandpa John who can tell Dad off without getting in trouble."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "What else?"

Jack smiled at Elizabeth and took her hand. Elizabeth's breath caught for a moment as she thought back to what Gran had said earlier that morning.

"Elizabeth." Jack said. "I know that you agreed to be my girlfriend, but I was thinking that we could make it more formal."

Jack reached into his pocket and pulled something out and held it in his closed hand.

"I had something made for us." Jack said. "Elizabeth, I was wondering if you would enter into a formal courtship with me. I want you to wear this ring (Jack opened his hand) as a symbol of our commitment and love for one another."

Elizabeth shed a tear as she looked at the two rings in Jack's hand. Unable to speak, Elizabeth nodded yes to Jack. He smiled before he took Elizabeth's left hand as it shook as he slid the ring on her ring finger.

"Would you please put the other ring on my hand?" Jack asked. "Then I will tell you about them."

Still shaking, Elizabeth took the other ring and slid it on Jack's left ring finger.

"So your ring was made from mine." Jack said. "The horse was cut out of mine. I went even further and had my initials engraved on the back of the horse. Just to the inside of the horse on my ring are your initials."

"They are perfect." Elizabeth said.

Jack wiped a tear as it slid down Elizabeth's cheek.

"So you are okay with this?" Jack asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Honestly, I thought you were going to propose and I don't know if I would have been able to say yes, just yet. I mean we have barely known each other for a little more than a week."

"I love you." Jack said. "Don't get me wrong, the thought of proposing crossed my mind. If I was completely honest, I would marry you right here, right now. But I would never pressure you or want to make you feel like we are rushing into something. However, I don't plan to wait all that long before I upgrade this (Jack lifted the ring he had just placed and kissed it) with a proper engagement ring. You let me know when you feel ready and I will plan something. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"I love you too." Elizabeth said. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you as well. I just have things that I want to do in life. I want to go to school and teach."

"You can do those things even if we are engaged or married." Jack said.

"Gran said the same thing." Elizabeth said.

Jack looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Gran and I talked about you proposing." Elizabeth said. "I tried to argue that we were too young and that I wanted to do things with my life. She shot down every one of my arguments. She told me that we belonged together and that there was no reason that we shouldn't be married if we both want to spend our lives together. However, I would argue that we need some time. I would like things to be a little more settled before we take the next step."

"I can see that." Jack said. "It has been a pretty crazy few days."

"Days?" Elizabeth said. "More like a week plus."

"Okay." Jack said. "I will give you that. Just know that I am not going to wait forever to make you my wife. Like I said I would never force you to do anything, but I am a young man."

Elizabeth blushed at what Jack was implying. She swatted his chest and Jack caught her hand and leaned in close so only Elizabeth could hear.

"It is getting harder and harder to resist you." Jack said softly. "I can't wait until you are completely mine. I won't lie and deny that I haven't already dreamed of the day, but I will be a gentleman and wait."

When Jack leaned back, Elizabeth could see a blush grazing Jack's cheeks as well. She quickly looked to the other room and saw that the coast was clear, so she leaned in and kissed Jack. It started as an innocent kiss, but quickly grew with passion and intensity. Jack responded with just as much passion and intensity as Elizabeth. Finally he had to pull back, not only did he need air, but he knew that he needed to stop before he couldn't. Jack leaned his head against Elizabeth's.

"Keep kissing me like that." Jack said low with a husky voice. "And I don't know if I can continue to be a gentleman."

Again, Elizabeth blushed at Jack's words. Before Elizabeth could respond, Jack got up and walked to the other side of the room and stood at the window looking out. As Elizabeth turned to look at Jack, she saw him adjust the front of his jeans. She realized why he walked away. She had to cover her mouth to hide a giggle, but she was glad that she could have an effect on Jack. She also realized that she had lit her own fire. Elizabeth also realized that Jack was right, if they kept going at the rate that they were, they were going to cross a line that they didn't want to cross. She also realized that she wanted Jack as much as he wanted her. She wondered if she could actually tell him yes and they could be married. Before Elizabeth's thoughts got too far, she heard someone clear their throat.

"If you two lovebirds are done." Doug said. "Lunch is almost ready."

Jack took one more deep breath before turning and helping Elizabeth off the couch. He held her hand as they followed Doug back to the kitchen. Elizabeth leaned her head on Jack's shoulder.

"I am sorry for pushing the boundary." Elizabeth whispered.

"It is okay." Jack said. "You weren't the only one that pushed. But now you see what I mean about waiting. We also need to be careful."

"I will try." Elizabeth said. "But no matter what I trust you."

When they got to the kitchen, everything was laid out for sandwiches, there was a macaroni salad, a fruit salad and cut up veggies with dip. There were also small bags of chips and there was lemonade and water on the table.

"Will someone go get Thomas?" Gran asked.

"I will." Doug said.

Doug left and returned with Thomas a couple of moments later.

"Nathan." Gran said. "Please lead us in prayer before we start."

"Heavenly Father." Nathan prayed. "We thank you for this day and the opportunities that You have given us. Thank you for each and every person here. Please be with our family that is not with us. Please bless this food to our bodies and the hands that prepared it. Bless our time together now and this evening. Please also keep all the workers safe as they set up for the gathering this evening. We ask these things in Your Name. Amen."

A chorus of amens followed. Jack stepped back with his arms around Elizabeth's waist as they waited for others to go first. Elizabeth leaned back into Jack's chest and let out a contented sigh as they waited. Gran looked over at them and that was when she noticed rings on both Jack and Elizabeth's left hands. She moved over to stand next to them.

"What are these?" Gran asked, touching Elizabeth's ring.

"Promise rings." Elizabeth said. "Jack had them made for us."

Elizabeth held out her hand for Gran to look. Gran was looking at the rings on both hands when Charlotte and Tommy walked in.

"What are you looking at, Mom?" Charlotte asked.

"Jack had promise rings made for him and Elizabeth." Gran said.

Charlotte let out a huff before going to wash up.

"Ignore her." Jack whispered to Elizabeth. "Don't let her ruin our happiness."

Jack still had his arms around Elizabeth when Charlotte returned. She took one look at them and shook her head.

"Seriously." Charlotte said. "I don't know what you two are thinking. You barely know each other. JP is destined for great things. You are just going to hold him back."

"Ma!" Jack yelled.

Gran stepped in between them. She shot a look at Jack and he backed down.

"Charlotte." Gran said. "I don't want another word out of you, unless you can say something nice. JP has made his choice and if you don't like it, well tough. I will not have you attacking Elizabeth. Especially since you have made no effort to try and get to know her. Now, make a sandwich for yourself and Tommy."

Charlotte grunted and then went about making the sandwiches. Gran turned to Jack and Elizabeth.

"Sorry, Gran." Jack said.

"It is okay." Gran said. "Please try to hold your temper, she wants a reaction from you to try and prove her point. Don't give it to her. You are better than that. You two are happy and that is all that matters, please try to remember that. Congratulations on the promise rings. You did very well."

"Thank you, Gran." Elizabeth said.

"Yes, thank you, Gran." Jack said.

Once everyone was seated with their food, Gran looked over to Jack.

"JP, please tell me about the rings?" Gran asked.

"I saw something similar online." Jack said. "I contacted a jeweler and described what I wanted. He put me in contact with someone that could do what I was asking. The horse on Elizabeth's ring is cut from mine. I had my initials put on the back of the horse. Her initials are on the inside of my ring near the cut out of the horse."

"Are they silver?" Gran asked.

"Yes." Jack said. "I had wanted platinum, but the man I spoke to said that silver would be easier to work with and he had that on hand. He would have had to order the platinum and it would have taken at least six weeks to get them."

"So that is what you had delivered?" Doug said.

"Among other things." Jack said with a coy smile.

"Care to share?" Elizabeth asked.

"In due time." Jack said, with a dimpled grin.

They continued to talk about a few things as they ate. Most of the conversation was about the bonfire that night. They were sitting having coffee and cookies when there was a knock at that door.

"I will get it." Nathan said, getting up.