Chapter 13 – Elizabeth's Reaction (long)
Jack and the doctor helped her sit up on the couch. The doctor still wanted to make sure that it wasn't something more serious. He looked at Jack, but realized that he wasn't leaving his wife's side, so he just continued.
"Mrs. …" The doctor said.
"Thornton." Jack said.
"Okay. Mrs Thornton." The doctor said. "My name is Dr Alexander. I need to ask you some questions, would you be more comfortable if we had some privacy."
"No." Elizabeth said. "Jack stays. We have no secrets from each other."
"Okay he can stay." Dr Alexander said. "Now can you tell me what happened?"
"I was standing with Jack and Wynn." Elizabeth said. "My father had just left."
Elizabeth closed her eyes and scrunched up her face again. She didn't want to think about the conversation with her father. She just wanted Jack.
"Okay." Dr Alexander said. "I have to ask you, is there a chance that you could be pregnant."
"No." Elizabeth said.
"Are you sure?" Dr Alexander asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said slightly blushing. "I am absolutely sure."
"Well enough." Dr Alexander said. "How have you been feeling otherwise?"
"Tired." Elizabeth said. "But it has been a long week. My husband and I traveled here from Hope Valley and it had been busy back home before we left."
The doctor turned to Jack seeking clarification. When Jack saw his look he understood.
"Hope Valley is a frontier town in Alberta." Jack said. "We are nestled right in the mountains. Elizabeth is a teacher and has about twenty students. We left by stagecoach and then traveled by train here. We arrived yesterday just about lunch time."
"Well." Dr Alexander said. "I agreed, that she probably just fainted. I would like her to take it easy for the rest of the day. When are you leaving to travel back?"
"Monday at the earliest." Jack said.
"Well if she is not feeling well, please consider putting it off for a couple of days." Dr Alexander said. "Please make sure that she eats something and is drinking enough. If she is still not feeling better tomorrow, please let me know and I will come back."
"I will." Jack said.
Dr Alexander stood up and grabbed his bag. Jack also stood for a moment.
"How much do I owe you?" Jack asked.
"I will just put it on the Mountie account." Dr Alexander said. "I know whose house this is."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"I will see myself out." Dr Alexander said. "Stay with your wife. Just make sure that she gets some rest."
Jack nodded and returned to Elizabeth's side. The doctor left the library and found Wynn in the hallway.
"She will be fine." Dr Alexander said. "I will just put it on the Mountie account."
Wynn shook his hand and showed him to the door. He stood there and watched the doctor leave. He turned from the door and went back to the library. He wanted to see if Jack and Beth needed anything. When he got to the door, he saw that Elizabeth was sitting on Jack's lap and his arms were wrapped around her and she appeared to be crying. He just backed away from the door and went to the kitchen to see his wife. He didn't want to interrupt the private moment that Jack and Elizabeth were having. He also figured that Jack knew what she needed more than anyone.
When Wynn got to the kitchen, he assured his wife that Beth was fine and Jack was with her. Aunt Elizabeth had started getting supper ready and Wynn helped her in the kitchen. Elizabeth Rose loved when her husband helped her cook. It didn't happen that often since he worked so much, so it was enjoyable. Wynn caught her looking toward the library a couple of times and reminded her that if they needed anything, Jack would let them know. He also told her it was probably best to just let her rest.
When supper was almost ready, Wynn had Dee clear off the table and set it. As Dee and Elizabeth Rose got everything on the table for supper, Wynn went to the library to let Jack and Beth know that supper was ready. He stomped his boots in the hallway to announce his presents before entering. When he entered the library, he found Beth laying against Jack's chest while he laid back on the couch, Jack's arms wrapped around her and his hands covering her stomach. They were both asleep. He went over to one of the chairs and grabbed a blanket and covered both of them up. He then turned out the lights and pulled the door almost closed, before returning to the dining room.
"They are both asleep." Wynn said. "I think I will just let them sleep. It has been a trying day. We can heat something up for them later."
Elizabeth Rose nodded, they sat and had a nice supper with light conversation. Wynn figured that seeing Beth like that reminded his son of his own mortality. He didn't want to upset anyone else, but he also knew that they would have to talk about things. Wynn wanted to check and make sure that he was fine after seeing his cousin like that. He wondered what his son was thinking since in reality he was still recovering from his own injuries. Yes, the physical things had healed, but there was no question that Dee was still recovering and could struggle from time to time. Just as Dee was finishing up the dishes from supper, Jack and Elizabeth walked into the kitchen.
"Did we miss supper?" Elizabeth asked.
"Dad said you were sleeping and to let you be." Dee said. "I can heat something up for you. It won't take long."
As Dee dried his hands and started pulling the food from the icebox, Aunt Elizabeth walked into the kitchen. She had thought she had heard Beth's voice. She motioned for them to sit and went to help Dee heat up two plates for them to eat. Aunt Elizabeth and Dee went about the kitchen heating up food for Jack and Elizabeth, Jack was deep in thought, but still kept an eye on Elizabeth. Jack was thinking about everything that had happened that day and if there was anything that he could do to make things better. He would do just about anything – except leave Elizabeth.
"Aunt Elizabeth." Elizabeth said. "Not that I don't appreciate all that you and Uncle Wynn have done, but I really just want to go home."
"We can talk about that tomorrow." Jack said. "I want to make sure that you are feeling better before we travel."
"Listen to Jack, Beth dear." Aunt Elizabeth said. "We don't want anything to happen to you. Since there is no doctor in Hope Valley."
"Fine." Elizabeth said. "But I would like to head home sooner than later."
"Please listen to Mother." Dee said. "I was scared when I saw you collapse."
Seeing the confusion on her face, Dee turned to his mother and looked at her and then shook his head. He realized that Elizabeth didn't know about his accident or very little about it.
"I was injured pretty badly." Dee said. "Working my first official assignment in Cape Fullerton after being here at headquarters. I was undercover trying to help catch a couple of whiskey runners when one of them was able to get the drop on me. I was hit over the head and knocked unconscious. When I was released, Dad wanted me to come back to Hamilton and work for him again. But I refused. I didn't want special treatment. I went back to my assignment in Cape Fullerton after the doctors released me. I had barely gotten back up to full speed when I was attacked a second time. I was hit in the head again and knocked unconscious again.
Apparently, it didn't stop there. They continued to beat me and then left me for dead. When I was found, the doctors didn't think that I would survive. That was part of the reason that Mom and Dad were spending more time in Cape Fullerton. I had to relearn a bunch of things. Because the two attacks came so close together I suffered additional damage. They were glad that I was alive. No one knew if I would ever return to duty or not. So this time Dad didn't give me a choice, he removed me from Cape Fullerton as soon as I was released from the hospital. I am now assigned to him as I continue to recover. Even when I was in the hospital in Cape Fullerton, I had around the clock armed guards."
"I am sorry." Elizabeth said. "I didn't know the extent. I knew you had a rough time in Cape Fullerton, but no one told me the whole story."
Elizabeth looked at her aunt and uncle. Her aunt had her reasons for not telling Elizabeth the whole story, but realized that she had made a mistake in doing so even if it was to protect Elizabeth since she had fears about Jack's job. While Dee was talking, a memory flashed in Jack's head and he wondered if it was true. He knew that he needed to think about it before talking about it, but he was almost positive he knew where he had met Dee before.
"I am sorry also." Jack said. "Glad that you are here and doing better."
Just as Jack and Elizabeth were about to eat, there was a knock at the door. Wynn went to answer it and Dee stood up and headed toward the front door. Dee saw his father talking to a young Mountie and then was handed an envelope. Dee wondered what trouble that it would bring. It was never a good sign when they came after supper time. Jack had just finished saying a blessing for the food that he and Elizabeth were going to eat when Wynn walked into the kitchen followed by Dee. Jack looked up and saw Wynn's face. He swallowed the bite he had just taken before speaking.
"What?" Jack said.
"Telegram for you marked urgent." Wynn said. "Constable Evans apologized for coming so late, but it was marked urgent and it comes from Hope Valley."
"Did he say anything else?" Jack asked.
"No." Wynn said. "I haven't read it, but I can if you want."
"Please." Jack said. "I really want to eat this lovely supper without having to reheat it a second time."
Wynn opened the envelope and read through the message. Jack had been watching him closely as he continued to eat. Jack watched Wynn's face fall, so he set his fork down and stood reaching for the message from Wynn. Jack quickly read it and then sat back down. Elizabeth looked at her uncle and then to Jack and realized that it contained bad news.
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked. "I know that there are things that you can't tell me or talk about because it is part of Mountie business, but please just tell me that everyone back home is okay."
"Beth dear." Wynn said. "It appears that former mayor Silas Ramsey was killed yesterday."
"Oh." Elizabeth said. "Poor Dottie. Can I ask what happened?"
Jack looked to Wynn and when he nodded, Jack turned to Elizabeth.
"I don't have details." Jack said. "But it appears that he was likely killed by the Garrison gang."
"Well that shows that they are not the Hope Valley area." Elizabeth said. "That is good news, right. Silas was on the road selling ice boxes."
"Unfortunately." Wynn said. "That is not the case. According to this Silas Ramsey was killed near Jamison. If I remember correctly, that is not that far from Hope Valley, about half a day's ride. Right, Jack."
"Yeah." Jack said. "Jamison is northeast of Hope Valley, and closer to Benson Hills. I personally haven't been there, but know where it is on the map. I think it is several hours by wagon, but there is a shortcut that you can take on horseback."
"You need to return home." Elizabeth said. "You should be there to protect the town. I am sure that Constables McGinty and Price are doing a great job, but you should be there."
"There is nothing that I can do there right now." Jack said. "I am more concerned about you and how you are feeling. I want to make sure that you are okay to travel."
"What do you mean there is nothing that you can do there?" Elizabeth asked.
"Elizabeth." Jack said, taking her hands. "There is nothing I, or Constables McGinty and Price or even Bill can do until we have a better idea what they are planning and then we can stop them. There are hundreds of places that they could be hiding. There is a lot of area between Hope Valley, Jamison and the mountains. It is just too big of an area to search. Until we have more information, all we can do is be alert. McGinty, Price and Bill can do that without me."
"Jack is right." Wynn said. "Besides, there are still things that need to be dealt with here. Please try to understand that we are doing everything that we can to catch the Garrisons but Jack has to deal with his brother and there is paperwork that needs to be done since Jack is the one that took Tom's statement. Please calm down Beth. You have had a long day and even longer week. Just finish your supper and then we can sit for a little bit and talk or you and Jack can turn in and we can talk about things in the morning."
"I guess that I am outnumbered here." Elizabeth said, turning back to her meal.
Elizabeth didn't say anything else, but just finished her meal. She stood and put her dishes in the sink and headed to her room. She didn't want to talk to anyone, she was upset and just wanted to go home. Jack finished eating and quickly did their dishes before going after Elizabeth. When he walked in their room, Elizabeth was sitting at the desk writing.
"Bella." Jack said. "I don't want to fight. Please can you talk to me?"
Elizabeth didn't say anything, but just kept writing. Jack just sighed and changed out of his clothes and got ready for bed. He grabbed his sketchbook and started working on a sketch until Elizabeth was done writing. He figured that she was writing in her journal and when she was done, he would talk to her before they went to bed. His mother told him to never go to bed mad. The best thing to do would be to talk it out even if it meant staying up all night. This was the first time that Jack and Elizabeth had really fought since they had been married. Jack glanced up from his sketchbook and saw that Elizabeth had closed her journal and was brushing her hair.
"Bella." Jack said. "Please talk to me. I am sorry if I upset you. I know that you want to go home, so do I. But I also want to make sure that you are feeling better before we leave and there are still things here that need to be dealt with."
Elizabeth finished brushing her hair, put in a braid before coming and sitting on the bed near Jack. She still hadn't spoken, but Jack could see that she had been crying.
"I am not mad at you." Elizabeth said. "It has just been an emotionally draining day and week. I thought that I would feel better after talking to my family, but if anything I feel worse. I can't believe how Father reacted."
Jack set his sketchbook to the side, pulled Elizabeth closer to him and wrapped his arms around her.
"It is okay." Jack said. "I just didn't want to go to bed mad. We have to be able to talk about things that bother us. I was so scared when you collapsed today. I thought that there was something really wrong with you, especially after what we had been talking about earlier in the library. Please understand that you are and always will be my first priority."
"I fainted, because I hadn't eaten enough and had an emotionally stressful afternoon." Elizabeth said. "I am feeling a lot better, I just can't explain why I am feeling the way that I am. I have never been emotional like this. Well, yes I have I guess. But then at least I knew why I was upset or could point to something more concrete. I am feeling like I was when I left school early and you were all worried about me. I know that I need to eat better, but when I am stressed, I forget because I have no appetite."
"Elizabeth." Jack said. "I want to understand or at least I will try. I understand the biology of what is going on and I learned about certain things growing up with my female cousins. I know that it can't be easy for you. I am sure that you were thinking about or maybe even hoping that we would be starting a family. I want to start a family with you and I know that God will provide that for us in time, we just need to be patient and trust that He understands the right time. We haven't even been married for a month, so it is okay if we wait just a little bit. We talked about this back at Christmas when they were all teasing us about honeymoon babies."
"Oh Jack." Elizabeth said. "As much as I want to have a family with you, I have to admit that part of me was relieved that I wasn't pregnant. I mean I thought I was because I was late, but then I got it on the train. I am sorry. I want a family, but I also am enjoying my time with you. Please don't hate me for feeling like that."
"I could never be mad at you for that." Jack said. "I know that we can't be together tonight, but can I at least hold you?"
Elizabeth got up, walked around the bed and crawled under the covers. She snuggled up close to Jack and felt better when he pulled her into his side. Elizabeth softly cried as Jack held her. He didn't say anything, but just held her and rubbed his hand in circles on her back. As much as he wanted to be with her, he knew that what she needed at that moment was comfort and understanding. They would be able to be together again soon and Jack understood that there would be times that they couldn't be together physically. That didn't mean that they still couldn't be close.
Slowly, Elizabeth's crying slowed and her breathing became more regular. Jack looked down and could see that her eyes were closed, but he knew that she wasn't fully asleep yet, so he just continued to hold her close. It physically hurt Jack to see Elizabeth so upset. He wanted to show her how much he loved and cared about her, but he couldn't the way he wanted to, so he did what Elizabeth needed and that was to hold her and be her strength in the moment. There was a part of Jack that was disappointed that they weren't expecting, but he tried to stay positive for Elizabeth. He knew it was harder for her than it was for him. Yet, a part of his heart was grieving as well and he didn't really understand why.
As Jack lay there holding Elizabeth trying to comfort her, he prayed for wisdom and understanding about all that they were going through in their short marriage. Jack also prayed for protection for Hope Valley and all of the surrounding area. He knew as much as he wanted to be there to help protect the town that was his, he knew that his place at the moment was with his wife and dealing with family issues. Jack prayed specifically for Bill and the other constables that were looking for the Garrisons. Jack prayed for Lee and Abigail, because he knew that they would step up and do whatever was needed to protect their town. He also prayed that Abigail would have wisdom to move forward as mayor and know what was needed. As Jack was praying, he felt Elizabeth relax and then he was able to relax a little more.
When Elizabeth's breathing became slow and even, Jack knew that she was asleep. He carefully lifted Elizabeth off of him and sat back up against the headboard. He picked his sketchbook back up and turned to a new page, he would go back to the sketch of the mountains later. At that moment, Jack wanted to draw a picture of Elizabeth that was in his head. He closed his eyes and thought of the image. He opened his eyes and started drawing a picture of Elizabeth holding a small bundle in her arms. There was a very tiny foot sticking out near her elbow and she was looking down and smiling. It was the image similar to that of when Elizabeth was holding one of Clara Noonan's twins, but the picture that Jack drew was of their child and Elizabeth. Jack couldn't wait until it was their baby that she was holding for real. He understood that it was still early in their marriage, but he knew that it would come in time. Jack thought about drawing Elizabeth pregnant and then drawing pictures of their kids. Jack finished the rough sketch, then closed his book and tried to go to sleep. Elizabeth wasn't the only one that had an emotional day. Jack slid down under the covers and pulled Elizabeth closer to him. She immediately snuggled back into his side and in no time Jack was sound asleep next to Elizabeth.
