Chapter 53 – Unexpected Surprise (long)

Faith made her way upstairs in the cafe. She knew that she had to tread lightly with Elizabeth, but she also was going to be firm with her. The last thing that Faith wanted was something to happen to Elizabeth and then Jack got upset because he didn't know. When she got to the top of the stairs, she heard Jack and Elizabeth talking, so she carefully knocked on the door.

"Good to see you more awake." Faith said to Jack. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." Jack said. "Still very tired, but getting there."

"Well." Faith said. "It is going to take some time to gain your strength back. I don't want you to push it, but if you want I may let you go to your own home tomorrow or Tuesday if you promise to rest."

"I don't think that is going to be a problem." Jack said. "In case you haven't noticed, I have a wife, my mother is in town and from what I hear at least one superior officer."

Elizabeth and Faith just laughed.

"Elizabeth." Faith said. "How are you doing? I heard that you haven't left Jack's side for more than a few moments. I am worried about you."

"I am fine." Elizabeth insisted. "I have been tired, but I will be better when Jack is home."

Faith just looked at Elizabeth and then at Jack. Elizabeth didn't see Jack shake his head at Faith. He silently pleaded that she press Elizabeth more. Jack knew that there was something going on, but Elizabeth was stubborn. Jack knew that he had tried to talk to Elizabeth, but he was hoping that Faith wouldn't back down and get to the bottom of what was going on with Elizabeth.

"Well." Faith said. "I know that you were sick a few weeks ago. I am concerned because I heard that you haven't eaten much and that you have been more than just tired. I am worried about you and I know that I am not the only one."

"I am fine." Elizabeth said.

This time Jack wouldn't take no for an answer. If Elizabeth wasn't going to say something, then he was.

"Really Bella." Jack said. "I may have been tired and have been out of it the last couple of days, but you had an upset stomach again today. Like I said, I may have been out of it, but I know that something is going on. You need to take care of yourself. I have been worried about you for weeks. I was tempted to wire Wynn and have him and Aunt Elizabeth come get you so you would go see a doctor. I will be fine, now please let Faith take a look at you."

Elizabeth sighed. She knew that Jack wasn't going to let it drop, so she might as well get it over with. She figured if Faith was willing she would allow an exam right there. As much as Elizabeth wanted to know, she also knew that Jack was just as anxious to find out.

"No need." Elizabeth said. "I think I know what is going on. I was going to talk to you later, but you have been busy."

"Are you sure?" Faith asked.

"Not completely." Elizabeth said.

"Mind if I see if we can confirm it?" Faith asked.

Jack just looked between them, but didn't say anything. He thought he knew what was going on, but he wanted to know for sure. He had been worried about Elizabeth for some time, even before he got hurt. Elizabeth just looked at Jack, then Faith and back to Jack. She finally nodded her head to Faith. Jack said a silent prayer that Elizabeth was alright and it was just what he had been hoping. He had been so worried that Elizabeth hadn't said anything, that he had pretty much given up that it could be true.

"Here or the other room?" Faith asked.

"Might as well do it here." Elizabeth said.

Jack scooted over a little and Elizabeth laid down on the bed. Faith felt around Elizabeth's stomach, then she pulled out a stethoscope and listened. She had a big smile on her face when she looked back at Jack and Elizabeth. Jack was excited, but he wanted to hear it.

"Well." Faith said. "I think that there is going to be a little Thornton this fall. I can't be fully positive without an internal exam."

"Really." Jack said. "That is amazing news. Can you do that here?"

Jack leaned down and gave Elizabeth a kiss. She kissed him back and then she tried to sit up.

"I can if Elizabeth wants." Faith said. "Or it can wait until next week in the office."

"Elizabeth?" Jack asked.

Elizabeth looked between Jack and Faith.

"Might as well do it now." Elizabeth said.

"Slip your bottoms off." Faith said. "Are you okay with Jack being here?"

"Yes." Elizabeth said.

Faith went to close the door and lock it while Elizabeth slipped her underwear off. She laid back down next to Jack who was sitting up holding her hand. Faith washed her hands and then donned a pair of gloves.

"Ready?" Faith asked.

Elizabeth nodded.

"Take a deep breath and relax." Faith said.

Elizabeth did what Faith said. Elizabeth looked at Jack and then closed her eyes while Faith did the exam. Jack was watching Elizabeth and saw her grimace as Faith examined her. When Faith was done, she turned away for a moment. She removed her gloves and washed her hands again. When she turned back, she had a smile on her face.

"You are definitely pregnant." Faith said.

"Thank you." Jack said.

Jack leaned down to kiss Elizabeth again. Faith wanted to give them some space, so she packed up her stuff. Elizabeth sat up and slipped her bottoms back on, then sat on the bed next to Jack. Before Faith left, she turned back to them.

"Any questions right now?" Faith asked. "If not, I will let you be and we can talk later."

"Wait." Jack said. "When in the fall?"

"Well." Faith said. "It is hard to be exact, but let me ask Elizabeth some questions and maybe we can narrow it down."

"I can't be that far along." Elizabeth said almost in tears.

Jack wrapped his arms around her and Faith sat on the edge of the bed.

"Why?" Faith asked. "From what I understand, you were married at Christmas. It is not out of the realm of possibilities. I don't want to embarrass you but when was your last monthly?"

"January." Elizabeth said. "When we were in Hamilton."

"Again, I don't want to embarrass you." Faith said. "If you want, we can go talk in the other room."

"No it is okay." Elizabeth said. "Jack understands more than most, I mean he already saw the worst so this is nothing."

"Okay." Faith said. "In January, was it normal?"

"Not really." Elizabeth said.

"How so?" Faith asked.

"It was really light and only lasted just over a day or two." Elizabeth said.

"When was your last normal one?" Faith asked.

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment like she was thinking.

"I guess a week or so before the wedding in December." She finally said.

"There you go." Faith said. "You were probably pregnant in January, it is not uncommon to have a little light bleeding in the first trimester. Especially if it is your first. Best guess is that you will welcome this little one sometime near the end of September or early October. Congratulations. I will leave you be. I will be around for a while if you need anything."

"Are you leaving?" Jack asked.

"If I want to stay at Union City hospital." Faith said. "I need to head back there by the end of the month. They understand that I am needed here right now with the landslide, but they can't make a permanent assignment."

"Okay." Jack said.

Elizabeth just looked at Jack, she heard the tone in his voice. She knew that he was thinking and something wasn't adding up. She also knew that he was concerned about Faith leaving. Jack didn't say anything else, but Elizabeth knew that there was more.

"Okay." Faith said. "You both need to rest. Please let me know if there are questions."

"Can you send Abigail up here?" Elizabeth asked.

"Sure." Faith said. "Again, congratulations and please rest. I want to do a more complete exam, but that can wait a few days. If you want and he is up to it, Jack can come."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I will let you know."

"We will both rest." Jack said.

Faith got up and grabbed her stuff, then headed downstairs. Jack waited until he heard her head down the steps before he turned to Elizabeth.

"I love you, Bella." Jack said. "This is so wonderful. Are you okay?"

"I love you too." Elizabeth said. "We will talk about this (indicating her midsection) in a moment, but I heard that tone in your voice when Faith said something about leaving. What is going on?"

"I had talked to Abigail about seeing if there was funding to offer Faith a full-time position." Jack said. "If Abigail didn't talk to her, then there must not be the funding. I guess I am disappointed. That is all. We really could have used her here. I also know that she wasn't looking forward to going back to Union City. I am not sure if you know that her and Adam broke up, he put her stuff in storage and left Union City. I don't even know if she has an apartment there anymore."

Before Jack or Elizabeth could say anything else, Abigail appeared in the doorway.

"You wanted to see me." Abigail asked.

"Yes." Jack said. "Faith said something about leaving by the end of the month. I thought that you were going to talk to her."

"I wanted to go over the books first." Abigail said. "When I did, I realized that there was no way that we could pay her a full-time wage. Maybe if we started setting aside something we might be able to pay a nurse's wage next year. Gowen didn't do well with the town's money, but I have made some changes, so things will get better, but it will just take some time."

"Okay." Jack said with disappointment in his voice.

"Wait." Elizabeth said. "What if there was another way? The town would still have to start setting aside money to be able to cover at least a portion of the wage later, but I think there is a way."

"What are you up to now?" Jack asked.

"I have an idea." Elizabeth said. "Just let me check something. I need to go talk to Dee."

Elizabeth got up and headed downstairs to find Dee. Jack and Abigail just looked at each other, then at the doorway that Elizabeth had disappeared out of. Jack motioned for Abigail to sit down and talk for a moment.

"Honestly." Jack said. "How are things?"

"Been better and been worse." Abigail said. "Everyone is pulling together and helping, but there have been tensions. Nothing that we can't handle. I don't want to bother you. You need your rest."

"No." Jack said. "I need to know what is going on. I know I need to rest, but I also need to know to put my mind at ease."

"There is grumbling among some of the men that were rescued." Abigail said. "The supervisor, a Mr Albertson, died as a result of his injuries. Some of the men are worried about what is going to happen. They want to get paid and those that are able want to go back to work."

"Dang!" Jack said, hitting the bed.

Jack tried to get up, but Abigail stopped him.

"As far as I know." Abigail said. "Wynn has Dee trying to figure things out. We have tried to reassure the people from the settlement that we don't expect payment, but they are worried about losing their land. They said that a lawyer shows up to collect payment."

"I knew there was something that I forgot to tell you." Jack said. "I learned that the settlement land was originally Gowen land and a lawyer was going out and getting rent from the settlers. I thought that all of his land/property had been forfeited or seized when he was arrested. I had meant to talk to you. I did request some information about Gowen and his holdings, as well as what happened to everything after his death. I know that some things came back to the town, but I wanted to double check on things. I haven't heard anything about my request. I also was looking into a few other men that were causing trouble for Sam at the saloon that also work for Lee."

"Well." Abigail said. "Wynn is here. I will talk to him and let him know. I am sure that Dee and/or Wynn will be able to handle things. I don't want you to worry about things. I will take care of things. I would love for Faith to stay, but I just don't see how."

"Well." Jack said. "If I know Elizabeth, she has a plan. Let her check out whatever it is that she needs to, but I think even if she had to pay for it herself right now, she would do it. She knows how much having a nurse means to the town."

"Okay." Abigail said. "Anything else?'

"No." Jack said. "I am going to try and rest until my wife comes back. Talk to you later."

"Night." Abigail said, picking up the empty tray from earlier.

Abigail left Jack alone and headed back downstairs. She knew that she needed to talk to Wynn. She also didn't want Elizabeth to have to pay for a nurse, it was the town's responsibility and she felt bad. Then Abigail realized what Jack had said and wondered if she and Charlotte had been right. She wanted to ask, but figured that she would find out when she was meant to. She was happy for them and knew that the town would love it when the heard. When Abigail got downstairs, she saw Wynn in the kitchen.

"Can I get you something?" Abigail asked.

"I was just going to make a quick sandwich." Wynn said.

"Here, sit down." Abigail said. "I will make you a hot plate. I have to talk to you about something anyway."

Wynn took a seat and looked at Abigail. She pulled some food out of the icebox and set it to heating. She then poured some coffee for Wynn and sat with him for a minute.

"I was just talking with Jack." Abigail said. "Apparently the settlement had been land that had been owned by Henry Gowen. Also there was a lawyer that was going out to collect rent. Both Jack and I thought that everything had been forfeited or seized when he was arrested. I know a bunch of land was bought up by Lee, and still other land came back to the town as repayment. I don't remember anything about that piece of land. I had let Jack know that there was some worry among the settlers that they were going to lose their land. I told them that I would check into things, but didn't have anything else that I could say."

"I will have Dee check into that." Wynn said. "He would know more than me off the top of my head. There is something else, isn't there? I saw Elizabeth grab Dee and go off to talk. She had that determined look on her face. I wasn't going to interfere at the moment. I have seen that face and I have also learned that it is better to let them calm down and come to me."

"Your wife?" Abigail asked.

"Wife and daughter." Wynn joked. "I called it the Thatcher face. I have also seen it on William and his girls."

"Oh boy." Abigail said.

She got up and got Wynn his supper before sitting back down to talk to him some more.

"Elizabeth learned that the town can't afford to pay for Faith to stay here right now." Abigail said. "Jack had talked to me, I looked at the books and it just wasn't in the budget right now. I am still trying to get the town on better footing from Gowen's poor investments. Maybe if we planned and set aside money we might be able to cover part of the salary in a year. I know that the nurses in some of the bigger cities make up to fifteen or twenty dollars a month. I think that the best that we could do was maybe ten. That would also include an apartment above the infirmary, but I still didn't think that we could get anyone."

"Knowing my niece." Wynn said. "She would pay for it herself if she felt it was important. All I will say is go ahead and make the change in the budget and start setting aside the money. I have a feeling that if Faith wants, she will be staying."

"Thank you." Abigail said. "Now what are we going to do about Rushman? He isn't going to drop this thing with Jack and Elizabeth. Oh, Charlotte and I talked to both Jack and Elizabeth and gave them a heads up."

"Don't worry about Rushman." Wynn said. "I have restricted him to the office for now and warned him about talking to the townspeople other than a polite greeting. I am also working on something, but can't say much yet. That boy needs to be taught a lesson in humility and I know just the thing. I have already had Dee start the first part. It is just going to take a few days. Besides, I don't think that he is actually stupid enough to cross Charlotte at this point."

"Alright then." Abigail said. "I will leave you to it. Jack was going to go back to sleep, but feel free to check if you want. I am sure that you would feel better seeing him yourself. I have something else to talk to you about, but it can wait."