Chapter 102 – Jacobs and the Thorntons

Elizabeth glared at him, tipping her head down slightly. Both Jack and Dee flinched at the look on Elizabeth's face. Jacobs, who seemed immune to the scary teacher's face, placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Does it really matter?" Jacobs said. "You know it won't make a difference."

"I want to know." Elizabeth said, refusing to lessen her glare.

"Fine." Wynn said. "But I don't want you getting upset. I don't want you getting worked up, especially right now."

"I will try my best." Elizabeth said through gritted teeth.

Wynn took a deep breath and looked at Elizabeth.

"When your father heard Charlotte's name." Wynn said. "Well, it took him a moment to realize that Charlotte was Jack's mother and then he got angry. He threatened both Charlotte and you, Jack."

"What did he say?" Elizabeth said. "Exactly."

"That it was Charlotte's no good son who forced himself on his daughter." Jacobs said. "He then threatened to ruin them both and that neither would ever work in Canada again. There was also something about Tom and your sister, Julie, Elizabeth. Like I said it doesn't matter what he said, he is going to have to learn that he can't bully people. I don't care how much money he has. He needs to learn to respect others."

Jack slammed his fist on the table. Elizabeth let out a harsh breath.

"Jackson." Wynn said in a stern tone. "Breathe."

"How dare he say that?" Jack said.

"Well." Elizabeth said. "That goes to show you I was right about Father if he thinks that little of us."

"Beth." Wynn said. "It just goes to show you how little he actually knows or cares about your lives."

Jacobs could see that both Jack and Elizabeth were getting worked up, so he wanted to calm things down and moved the conversation along.

"Your uncle is right, you know." Jacobs said. "I just met you and I can see how in love you are. I have only been in town a little while and I can see how much you both love this town and they in turn love you."

"Thank you." Jack said. "But to William Thatcher, I will never be good enough."

"You are more than enough for me." Elizabeth said, taking Jack's hand.

Jack lifted Elizabeth's hand and kissed the rings he had put on her hand.

"I am sorry that you got upset." Jacobs said. "That was not the intent. We do need to talk about what is going to happen to Mr Thatcher and Mr Kensington, Mr Monclair's fate is sealed."

"Edward Monclair?" Elizabeth asked. "What did he do? I still can't believe that Father would stoop that low and bring him in. I have known Edward since we were children. Never liked him, even back then."

"Apparently." Wynn said. "Your father hired him to take you back as a proper escort for you. According to Monclair he was to take you back to Hamilton while your father and Mr Kensington handled legal matters and packed your belongings. Once you returned to Hamilton, he was to stand guard and not allow anyone to get to you."

"I would have never gone anywhere with Monclair." Elizabeth said emphatically. "I don't trust him, even if he is a Mountie. How Father could think he was a proper escort is beyond me?"

Elizabeth let out a shuddering breath.

"Was a Mountie." Dee said.

Jack and Elizabeth both looked at Dee.

"Monclair is no longer a Mountie." Dee said. "For a variety of reason, but include attempted kidnapping of you. He is out of chances. Jacobs and I agree with Dad that he needs to face the consequences of his actions."

"Good." Elizabeth said. "He was always a little too friendly with me and made me uncomfortable."

Jack took Elizabeth's hand and held it.

"He didn't hurt you did he?" Jack asked.

"No." Elizabeth said. "Only because I was never alone with him long enough. Not that he didn't suggest a few crude things from time to time."

Jack could see Elizabeth getting upset.

"Enough about that." Jack said. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"We need to talk about what to do about your Father and Mr Kensington." Wynn said. "Jacobs here has proposed a few things, but before we talk to them and their lawyer, Belanger. We wanted to see how you felt or if you had anything else to add."

Jacobs laid out everything that had been talked about with Wynn, Dee and Bill when they were in the mayor's office. He talked about the agreement that he wanted signed from each William Thatcher and Charles Kensington. Jacobs also talked about how Elizabeth could take control of the company and keep her name private. Elizabeth was excited about that, but she knew that she would still have to talk to Jack about what they wanted to do. She also wanted to talk to Wynn and see what he thought about that. Elizabeth knew that Wynn was having his son-in-law, Andrew, research their options. When Jacobs had finished laying everything out, he looked at Jack and Elizabeth.

"Anything that you want to add?" Jacobs asked.

"I want Father to leave us alone unless we make contact." Elizabeth said. "He can contact us in case of an emergency, but he needs to let us live our life. He can't keep making things up to get me to come back to Hamilton, like when he claimed Mother was sick. We dropped everything and rushed to Hamilton, only to learn that they sent the wire because Mother missed me and thought it was time I returned home."

"Okay." Jacobs said.

"He also needs to respect that we have a life together." Jack said. "He can't dictate to us about our life. If he wants a place in our lives, he needs to accept our choices."

"Good." Jacobs said. "We will get this written up. Belanger is coming back tomorrow. He is staying in Buxton. Something about proper accommodations."

"Do you think that William Thatcher will agree?" Jack asked.

"I think I can convince him." Jacobs said. "The alternative will be facing felonies and he can try to convince a judge. Just know that if he goes that route, I will be there at every turn. I will not allow him to destroy your life. If he forces my hand, I will put him in prison."

"I don't know if that is what I want, exactly." Elizabeth said. "I really just want him to leave us alone. I don't know what him being thrown in jail would do to my mother."

"I understand." Jacobs said. "But if he doesn't agree to the terms I have laid out, then it will be out of your hands."

"I know" Elizabeth said.

"It will be alright, Beth." Wynn said. "Maybe this is the wake up call that it will take to show him that we mean business."

Jack looked at Elizabeth and knew he had to speak up.

"I know what Elizabeth wants." Jack said. "But if William Thatcher can't accept the life that we have chosen, then he has no place in our life or the lives of our children. I will not subject them to him belittling us and making them feel bad. I will protect my family."

"Thank you, Jack." Elizabeth said. "I agree with Jack, especially now that we are expecting. I will not subject my children to his behavior."

"By the way." Jack said. "We haven't officially announced that we are expecting. Wynn and Dee know, as well as my mother. We also told Abigail Stanton, as she is very special to both of us."

"Congratulations." Jacobs said. "I won't say anything, but you might use it as a bargaining chip with your father."

"No." Elizabeth said. "If he can't be happy for Jack and I then he doesn't need to know at this point."

"Okay." Jacobs said. "I won't say anything, but it also makes it harder for him to push a judge to dissolve the marriage. I can see that you weren't forced and that you really care about each other. I will do everything I can to protect all three of you. I just have to ask, Elizabeth, are you ready to deal with what happens if your father doesn't back down. It could force your hand as far as taking over the company and it would mean a lot of press. It would be harder to keep things quiet."

Elizabeth looked over at Jack, squeezed his hand and then looked around the table.

"Father needs to learn that he can't bully me into doing whatever he wants anymore." Elizabeth said. "What happens, will happen. I was going to talk to Jack more about this, but I was thinking more and more about taking the company over. I also know who I want to run to. Also know that if I do take over, Charles Kensington will NOT be working for Hamilton Shipping anymore. I also think that we have time before we have to make a decision."

"Bella." Jack said.

"No, Jack." Elizabeth said. "I am sick of Father using money to try and make me do what he wants. When you were missing and I thought that you were dead, I was so scared. I knew that I would do whatever I could to find you and help you. I would have gladly spent every penny of the Thatcher money just to make sure that you were fine. I know that you love the Mounties as much as I love teaching, but we can live the life we want and still have all the money. You know that I don't care about the money, but I remembered something that Andrew Russell, Jr told me."

"What are you talking about?" Jack said.

"Do you know why Andy Russell became a Mountie?" Elizabeth asked. "Do you know why he took the Inspector exam the moment he was eligible? Not only took it, but aced it."

"No." Jack said.

"I do." Elizabeth said.

"Care to share?" Wynn asked. "Because I would really like to know."

"Andy told me when we were kids." Elizabeth said. "He said he was going to be a Mountie so he could protect his family and those he cared about. When I asked him how he was going to do that, being so well known as he was even back then, he told me that he was going to do it by being smarter than criminals and teach the younger Mounties how to work smarter, not always harder. Your fierce protectiveness and sense of duty was something that you shared. Even as a child, Andy was very protective of me."

"Really?" Jack said.

"I remember one time." Elizabeth said. "We were playing in the back courtyard of the mansion during some function. Charles was picking on me and Andy stepped in and stood up to him. Charles wouldn't back down. Even back then, Charles said I was his. I remember Andy telling him that I was my own person and I would decide who I spent my life with. I am sure that Andy was hoping it would have been him, but it was the point that he stood up to Charles even back then."

"I remember that." Dee said. "Wasn't that when Charles tried to kiss you when you were eight and he was like twelve?"

"I believe it was." Elizabeth said. "I knew even back then that he would never have my heart. I never figured out why Andy and Charles were more interested in me than Viola. They were closer to her age then they were mine, but it didn't matter."

"Well, you dear Beth." Dee said. "You were always more interesting than Viola. You were very well read, played the piano the best and had the best voice of any of them. You were also fun to be around. Viola was always so prim and proper and never really wanted to play or get dirty. Never figured out why you didn't have a line of suitors a mile long."

"Because, Dee." Elizabeth said. "I refused to entertain them. I had informed the staff to turn them away at the door. The more I turned them away, the fewer would continue to try. All except Charles and Edward. I can't tell you how many times they were refused. The only time I ever went on a date with either of them was when Charles escorted me to Julie's debutante ball. And the only reason that happened, was because Father arranged it before I could object and the programs were already printed."

"Make sense now." Jacobs said.

"What does?" Elizabeth asked.

"I doubt that Charles or Edward ever really loved you." Jacobs said. "To them, you were a challenge. Something to claim as a prize. When Charles started working for your father and gained his approval, he probably felt like he had won the unattainable prize. I hate to be callous, but from everything that I know and have heard, you were just a prize he was determined to get and show off. I doubt that love even entered into the equation for either of them. I doubt that your father saw you as more than a way to further his business. I don't know that personally, but I have seen it from other wealthy businessmen who had daughters. To them, daughters were to be married off as part of a business deal. I honestly think that was how your father saw things with Charles."

"Thinking about it." Elizabeth said. "I can see you are right. I don't think Charles is capable of truly loving someone. He has always been more concerned with appearances and money. Not only was I the unattainable prize, but I came complete with a pot of gold. I know that my father thinks like that because he had told me on more than one occasion that love had nothing to do with marriage. That was part of the reason that I never entertained suitors. I was never sure if they really cared about me or if they cared more about the money that they would get for winning my hand. I also knew from a young age that I would never marry someone that I didn't love."

Everyone was silent as they thought about what Elizabeth had said. Finally, Jack took her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. He then looked at her very lovingly.

"You know I never saw you like that." Jack said.

"Oh, I know." Elizabeth said. "Since you called me a 'spoiled princess' the first time we met. But I showed I was very capable of doing things. On top of that, you were willing to marry me despite my father."

"Yes" Jack said. "But you found your share of trouble as well. As long as you agreed, there was nothing that could have kept me from marrying you."

Wynn and Dee just laughed. They both knew full well that Elizabeth was fully capable of finding and causing trouble.

"Jack, Elizabeth." Jacobs said. "It is getting late and I want to get this paperwork done. I should also let you rest. I am sure that we will be seeing more of each other."

"It was nice to meet you." Elizabeth said.

"Look forward to working with you." Jack said. "Also thank you for handling all of this."

"Not a problem." Jacobs said. "I was just there and did my job."

"Jacobs." Wynn said. "Here are the keys to Abigail's office. Feel free to work there if you want some quiet. I am not sure what is available, but feel free to talk to Sam at the saloon and have him put a room on the Mountie account if you need. I think that Bill is staying at the jail. I really don't know what else is available right now."

"Thank you, Sir." Jacobs said. "I figured I could stay at the jail, but that is a little crowded. I have no problem sleeping in the barn loft."

"Absolutely not." Wynn said. "You will stay at the saloon or talk to Mrs Stanton and see if you can stay with her. She had a few rooms above the cafe. With Jack and Beth back home, I believe one is free. Also make sure that you get something to eat from Abigail."

"The saloon is fine." Jacobs said. "Now I will let you get on with your evening."

"Come get us if you need." Dee said. "Dad and I will be here, as well as Charlotte, she has her tent set up in the side yard. Bill and McGinty will be at the jail. I don't think that there is room for a third cot in the back room.

Jacobs nodded and left the house, heading back to town.