Chapter 15 – Meeting the Russells (long)
Elizabeth put a marker on the page she had just finished and stood up. She looked back at Jack who was grinning from ear to ear. He closed his sketchbook and set it aside. He stood up and pulled her close to himself and gave her a kiss before leading her to the front hallway. Jack quickly changed into his serge, but left his jeans on before pulling his coat on. He had left his pistol in its case, but put his belt on. When Jack got ready, he noticed that Wynn had also put his serge on. Jack looked at him. Jack was still getting used to seeing Wynn in his serge, since most of the time that they had been in Hope Valley, Wynn wore a suit or casual clothes. Wynn wasn't sure what the look from Jack was, but he knew that he needed to quickly clarify things.
"I am going to take you there." Wynn said.
"We are going to their house?" Jack asked in surprise.
Jack had been thinking that they would meet somewhere for supper or at least on neutral ground.
"Relax." Elizabeth said. "Mr Russell is nothing like Father. Besides, he is forever grateful that you rescued his granddaughters."
"Beth is right." Wynn said. "The serge was suggested as a formality."
Jack nodded and followed Elizabeth and Wynn out of the house and to the car. Wynn pulled out of his place and headed to their destination. Just over twenty minutes later, Wynn pulled up to a closed gate with a security guard there. He approached Wynn.
"Deputy Commissioner Delaney." Wynn said. "Along with Corporal Thornton and his wife to see Mr Russell."
"Yes." The guard said. "Give us a minute to open the gate. Then you can pull up to the main house."
"Thank you." Wynn said.
As the guards opened the gate, Elizabeth felt Jack stiffen next to her. She reached over and took his hand. She looked at him and squeezed his hand. She could tell he was nervous, more than when he met Wynn.
"Breathe." Elizabeth whispered. "It will be fine."
Jack just looked at her and she nodded. Jack took a deep breath and slowly let it out. As comfortable as Jack felt with Wynn there was no way that he could have done this without Elizabeth by his side. A few minutes later they pulled up to a mansion larger than the Thatcher's. Elizabeth knew that it was probably the only private property in all of Hamilton that was bigger than her father's. Jack's eyes just about popped out of his head as he leaned forward to get a look at the mansion with massive columns lining the front of it with a wide porch behind it. Jack tried to take in the whole building, but just couldn't so he closed his eyes and tried to calm his body. Elizabeth still had a hold of his hand and squeezed it to reassure Jack that she was right there with them. Wynn put the car in park and then helped Elizabeth out after getting out himself. Jack climbed out and stood next to Elizabeth. He ran his hands down the front of his serge thinking he should have been in his dress uniform, but didn't have it with him. He was suddenly very self conscious. Elizabeth stepped in front of Jack and looked him in the eye.
"It is fine." Elizabeth said. "I have known the Russell family for most of my life. He won't care what you look like. He just wants to meet the man who returned his granddaughters to him."
Jack just nodded since his throat felt dry and wasn't sure he could speak. Elizabeth took his hand and followed her uncle to the front door. When they were standing next to Wynn, he rang the bell and it didn't take long for the butler to answer the door and show them inside. After they removed their coats, they were shown to the sitting room. The butler stopped at the door and knocked. Jack and Elizabeth stopped behind Wynn. Jack was trying to follow their lead since they understood more of what was going on.
"Sir." The butler said. "I present to you Deputy Commissioner Delaney. Corporal Thornton and his wife, Elizabeth."
Mr Russell stood to greet his guests.
"Thank you, Benson." Andrew Russell said.
Benson nodded and disappeared.
"Wynn." Andrew said. "Good to see you again."
The men shook hands and then Andrew turned to Jack.
"Good to finally meet you." Andrew said, extending his hand to Jack.
"Good to meet you too, Sir." Jack said.
Jack was going to introduce Elizabeth, when Andrew turned to her with shock on his face.
"Liz!" Andrew exclaimed. "I didn't know that you got married. I didn't see anything in the papers."
"You wouldn't have Andrew." Elizabeth said. "We got married a month ago in Hope Valley, my parents just found out. And you know that Andy was the only one that ever called me Liz and got away with it."
"Just as you were the only one to call him Andy and get away with it." Andrew said.
"Sorry for your loss." Elizabeth said. "But I am glad that Jack was there for the girls."
"Yes." Andrew said. "I assume that you got the money, Corporal Thornton?"
"Yes." Jack said. "Please call me Jack and that was very generous of you. I was just doing my job. The girls were no trouble and I enjoyed my time with them."
"Please sit." Andrew said. "The girls will be in shortly."
The group sat down and was immediately offered coffee or tea from the staff. Once everyone had a drink, Andrew turned to Jack.
"You may think you were only doing your job." Andrew said. "But my wife and I cannot tell you how grateful we were. We were afraid to go to the Mounties when Anne took off with the girls. After what happened with Andrew, we were afraid of what she and that man would do. I have heard a little of what Beth has said, but how did you know? Why did you go to them?"
Jack ducked his head and blushed a bit.
"It was nothing." Jack said. "Both girls seemed to be fussing and not liking the train. Beth had actually turned around and shyly waved to me. Anne, was it, looked overwhelmed, so I went to offer to watch the girls for a few moments. The moment I walked up, Sarah wanted me to pick her up so I did. I said I would hold her for a moment to give them a break. Within minutes, Sarah had quit fussing and was snuggled into my arms. When I sat down in the aisle across from them, Beth came over and snuggled up to me as well. I was having fun holding the girls and when I looked up, Anne and the man with her were gone. When the porter came through I asked for a snack for the girls. He alerted the conductor that I had two little girls when I had boarded the train alone. Especially since I was in my serge and he had sat me in the back of the train so I could see everyone. When the conductor came, I explained what happened. They got in contact with the Mountie station in Fort Garry where I had previously been stationed. A plan was put together and I kept the girls until I handed them over to the Mounties in Fort Garry. They couldn't have been more delightful to share a train ride with."
Before anyone could say anything else, Beth came barreling into the room followed by an older woman and a younger one carrying Sarah.
"Mountie Jack!" Beth hollered as she ran across the room.
Jack knelt down to meet the girl and was almost knocked over when she crashed into his arms. Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at the scene as it unfolded in front of her. She thought that their children would greet their father like that someday. After regaining his balance, Jack wrapped little Beth in a huge hug. He stood and spun her around.
"I am so glad that you came." Beth said.
"Elizabeth Kristina Russell." The older woman said. "That is not how we greet our guests."
Little Beth immediately stiffened Jack's embrace.
"Sorry." Beth whispered.
"It is okay." Jack said. "You were excited."
"Yes, dear." Andrew said. "It is okay."
Jack set Beth down, but she stayed by his side.
"Everyone." Andrew said. "Let me introduce you to my wife Ingrid and the girl's governess, Thora. This Deputy Commissioner Wynn Delaney. Corporal Jack Thornton and his wife Elizabeth."
Little Beth tugged on Elizabeth's skirt and she knelt down to the girls level.
"Pleasure to meet you Mrs Russell." Jack said.
As Jack greeted the women, he kept an eye on his wife.
"Is your name really Elizabeth?" Little Beth asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "My name is Elizabeth Grace. I knew your daddy. We were friends when I was your age."
Little Beth looked at Elizabeth.
"I miss my daddy." She whispered.
"I bet you do." Elizabeth said.
Then little Beth leaned in to get a hug from Elizabeth.
"Kom og la de cokasne snakke." Thora said, taking little Beth's hand. (Come let the adults talk.)
"Hun kan bli." Elizabeth said. (She can stay.)
Both Thora and Ingrid were surprised when Elizabeth spoke in Norwegian, but Andrew just smiled.
"Ingrid." Andrew said. "The girls are fine. Let them stay for a bit. Beth is excited to see Jack again. I am sure he would like to see Sarah as well."
Ingrid nodded to her husband. Thora let go of little Beth's hand and Jack reached over to take Sarah before sitting down again. Elizabeth sat down and little Beth climbed up into her lap, as happy as can be. Andrew smiled at the scene in front of him. Ingrid dismissed Thora and took a seat near her husband. Wynn smiled as he looked over at the settee with Jack and Elizabeth each holding a child. He couldn't help but think what a cute little family they made, especially since the girls looked like Jack and Elizabeth. He couldn't wait until they had children, but he also knew that he wasn't going to push them after what happened at Christmas.
"Now where were we?" Andrew said. "Oh that is right. Jack was telling us about the train ride."
"There is really nothing more to say." Jack said. "Like I said. I didn't know that anything was really wrong at first. I felt that something was off, but it could have just been frazzled travelers. I was alone and thought I could keep the girls entertained for a bit to give them a break. It was only when they moved from the car that I realized that there might be more. I finally got Beth here, to talk to me a little and that was when I realized I did the right thing. I didn't even know the whole story until some time later."
"Oh. That reminds me." Wynn said. "Andrew, I have something for each of the girls. Sarah is a little young, but I thought it would be nice for her to have one as well. May I?"
"Please, go ahead." Andrew said.
With that Wynn pulled out two small packages out of his messenger bag he had with him. He held one out to Beth and offered the other to Andrew. Elizabeth encouraged little Beth to take the present and then helped her open it while Andrew opened Sarah's. He was surprised when he opened it and saw the double frame. When he opened it, he couldn't hold back the tears. Inside was a picture of his son when he graduated from the academy and the other was of Jack and Elizabeth from their wedding. Jack was equally surprised when he saw what little Beth held in her hands. He took a moment to close his eyes and stop the tears before turning to the group.
"No wonder they came to me." Jack said. "They recognized the serge."
"It was more than that." Elizabeth said, handing Jack the frame.
When Jack looked at the picture of the young Andrew Russell, he realized that they could have almost been twins. Jack was at a loss for words.
"I am so sorry, Mr and Mrs Russell." Jack said. "I had no idea that their father was a Mountie. I mean I felt a connection to the girls right away, but I had no idea. Beyond that, the fact that we look so much alike …."
Jack was at a loss for words. Somewhere in the back of his brain, he remembered hearing that Andrew J Russell was a Mountie, but it didn't register until he saw the picture. Then to be staring back at a face that was so similar to his own, well it threw Jack for a loop.
"It is fine." Andrew said. "We adopted our son as an infant. His mother was young and couldn't care for him, the father was nowhere to be found. We never knew who he was. The young woman signed the papers and we took Andy home when he was ten days old. We never treated him any differently than our other children."
"Thank you Wynn." Ingrid said. "This means so much to us. I have very few pictures of Andy, especially in uniform. He never liked having his picture taken."
"I understand." Wynn said. "I thought that it would be special for the girls to have. I also have a set for Jack and Elizabeth, but instead of a wedding photo, I thought maybe a picture of the girls would be nice."
"I will get that done and send it." Andrew said. "I know I sent one with Collins back in October, but it was a small one and Sarah was just an infant in that one.
"I have that in my wallet." Jack said. "But you are right, a newer one would be nice for the frame."
Wynn looked at Elizabeth and motioned to the girls. She realized he had something to say that probably shouldn't be said in front of the girls.
"Ta søsteren din og lek." Elizabeth said to Beth. (Take your sister and go play.)
Elizabeth motioned to Jack. Little Beth handed the frame to Elizabeth, climbed down and took her sister's hand after Jack hand set her on the floor. As soon as they were clear of the door, Wynn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Jack wondered what was going on. He knew that there was more than just Wynn wanting to give the Russell girls the photos.
After Andrew died … ." Wynn said. "I looked into his personal file. I found that he had been doing some digging into his background. With his connections and the resources available to a Mountie Inspector … well … let's just say he found things."
"He never said anything." Andrew said.
"He probably didn't want to upset you." Wynn said.
"Did he find his birth parents?" Ingrid asked.
"Yes." Wynn said. "His father had passed away and his mother had remarried, but answered his questions in detail. I don't know if what he found was part of what led to his death, but he had found answers and for that I was glad."
"What do you mean?" Andrew said. "I thought Anne was after our money. She had been wanting it for years. I had set up the girls trust funds so that Anne couldn't have access. I didn't trust her. I had tried to talk to Andy but he loved her."
"I don't think Andrew ever told Anne he was adopted." Wynn said. "From her statements to the Mounties, she was shocked to learn that when they spoke to her, but later she was overheard talking to another prisoner where she talked about how she knew he was never royalty and that the money was never there."
"I assure you." Andrew said. "Andy was considered as much royalty as his sisters."
"I believe you." Wynn said. "But I think that there was something to Anne's statements."
Elizabeth looked between her uncle and husband. She knew that there was a reason that Wynn had come with, but she wasn't sure where everything was going. She looked at the picture in her hands and she couldn't help but wonder what Andy had found.
"So what did Andrew find?" Ingrid asked. "I don't know if I want to know, but I think I need to for the girls sake."
"When Andrew found his birth mother using the records he found." Wynn said. "He went to meet her. She lives in Montreal now."
"I remember him going." Andrew said. "He said it was business."
"Again." Wynn said. "I am sure that he didn't want to upset you. When she met with him, apparently he asked who his birth father was. According to his notes that he took of the meeting, she admitted to getting involved with a married man when she was seventeen and he was much older. She told him that when he found out she was pregnant, he was angry and sent her away and then never spoke to her again. He pressed her for a name and she finally relented with the condition that he never contact her again and to not expect anything from his birth father. When Andrew got back, he looked into the name that he had been given and found that his birth father had passed away. He looked into the man, but chose to not pursue any of his family because he didn't know what they had been told or if they knew about him."
"I don't understand." Andrew said. "What did he find? Who was his birth father?"
Wynn stopped for a moment and looked squarely at Andrew and Ingrid.
"I don't know if I am at liberty to say at this time." Wynn said. "From what Andrew learned, his birth father stayed married with two children. I looked into the name myself and realized that there was more to the story. I have been trying to contact the family for some answers, but haven't heard back yet. Until I do, I don't think that I can share more. I promise I will share more if and when I can. Please be patient with me as I look into things. Nothing will change the fact that Andrew was your son and those girls were his world. Andy would have done anything to protect those girls. I just hope that his desire to know his past didn't lead to his death. No matter what, the Mounties will be here for you and those girls."
"Thank you for the pictures." Andrew said. "I know that Beth will love having it and I am sure that Sarah will as well when she is old enough."
"I think we should be going." Wynn said. "It has been a long day for both Jack and Elizabeth. They also have to deal with some other issues here in town, before traveling back this week."
"It was so nice to meet you." Jack said.
"Please come back again." Andrew said. "I am sure the girls would love to see you."
"I promise." Elizabeth said. "We will see you the next time we are in Hamilton. Hopefully we will be able to plan a time with more warning."
"Anytime." Andrew said. "It was so good to see you again Liz. I am glad to see you are happy and I promise we won't say anything to anyone about the wedding. I can see that you are truly happy and that is good. Andy would have wanted you to be happy."
"You know I loved him like a brother." Elizabeth said. "I know that he had a crush on me, but it was never meant to be."
"I know." Andrew said.
Everyone was saying their goodbyes when Thora brought the girls back in.
"Bye Mountie Jack." Beth said. "Will you come see me again?"
"I promise." Jack said, kneeling down to the girl. "I live far away, but I promise when I come back I will come see you. You have my picture. If you want to write or send me pictures, I am sure that your grandfather can get my address. I promise to write back. Maybe you can come visit in the summer. I would love to show you where I live."
"Really?" Beth said excitedly.
"Really." Jack said. "I also promise that we will come back and see you again."
"Thank you." Little Beth said. "I promise to be good. I will send you more pictures."
"I would love that." Jack said.
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile when she saw Jack with Little Beth. She knew that he was going to be an amazing father and couldn't wait to give him a house full of children. With one last hug for Little Beth, Jack stood and kissed Sarah on the head before turning to hide his tears.
"It was so good to see you again." Elizabeth said. "I am glad that I got to meet the girls. Jack told me about them and I know that he missed them as well."
"Come visit anytime." Ingrid said.
Elizabeth gave the girls each a hug and wished them well. Wynn shook hands and promised to be in contact soon. He also promised to have Jack's address for them.
