Chapter 108 – Elizabeth Speaks
As soon as McGinty was gone, Wynn turned to Jacobs and nodded. Jacobs knew that it was his show to run. Bill saw the look and knew that Wynn had turned things over to Jacobs. He was interested in what they had come up with after they had talked to Jack and Elizabeth. Jacobs walked over to the cell that held William and Charles. He straightened up to his full height and glared at the two men before him for a full minute before speaking. Wynn could see Monclair getting upset that Jacobs was ignoring him. Wynn was going to keep an eye on Monclair, but let Jacobs run the show as he saw fit.
"You two should be ashamed of yourselves." Jacobs said. "The way that you have treated Mrs Thornton."
"Don't call her that." William bellowed. "Her name is Elizabeth Thatcher."
Wynn and the rest looked on, to see what Jacobs would do. Wynn knew that his brother-in-law was trying to get Jacobs worked up, but Wynn also knew that it wasn't going to work.
"Wrong." Jacobs said calmly. "She is legally married and therefore her name is Elizabeth Thornton. I was going to propose a deal, but if you can't even accept the basic premise that she is legally married, then there is no point in offering you a deal. You can take your chances with a judge, but I will tell you, no matter where your hearing will be, I will be there to argue that you should be locked up for what you have tried to do."
"You can't do that." William said.
"He is right." Belanger said. "I will make sure that the proceedings are closed to anyone other than the lawyers and the court officers."
Jacobs just smiled.
"Then I will volunteer to prosecute the case for the government." Jacobs said. "Forgot I was a barrister. I have prosecuted cases before. I am sure that the government wouldn't mind allowing me to handle a case that I am familiar with."
"What is this deal?" Belanger asked.
"I am not going to tell you that, until I can at least get your client to agree that Elizabeth Thornton is legally married." Jacobs said.
Belanger walked over to the cell. He looked at William, then turned to look at the other men standing there, before turning back to William.
"Just agree about the marriage." Belanger whispered. "We can deal with it later. I want to hear this deal, it might be the only way to keep this quiet. I saw the transport wagon. IF that happens, there is no way that I can protect you."
"No deal." Jacobs said.
Belanger turned to look at Jacobs who had taken a few steps closer to the cell.
"What are you talking about?" Belanger demanded.
"Mr Thatcher agrees that his daughter is legally married." Jacobs said. "No questions asked. No dealing with things later. Agree period or no deal."
Belanger turned to look at William who was fuming. Before either could say anything, Charles stood up and walked up next to William. Charles glared at Jacobs.
"Absolutely not!" Charles yelled. "Elizabeth is mine, always has been and always will be."
"Have it your way." Jacobs said. "I have nothing left to say to you. Mr Belanger, if your clients aren't going to listen to reason, then there is nothing left but to get them ready for transport and for that to happen you have to leave."
"I am not leaving my clients." Belanger said. "I want to hear this deal."
"Nope." Jacobs said. "Now you are leaving or I will have you removed. You forget that you are standing in the Mountie office with four Mounties in here and at least five more outside. Your choice, leave or join your clients in the transport wagon."
With that, Dee stood up with Bill and Wynn moved closer to the cells.
"Where are you taking them?" Belanger demanded.
"Mr Thatcher and Mr Kensington will be moved to Union City to stand before a judge." Wynn said. "Mr Monclair will be taken to Union City and held until it can be arranged for him to be moved to Hamilton where he will stand for his crimes. He is no longer a member of the Mounted Police and will be required to obtain his own representation. He will also be publicly listed as dishonorably removed from the Mounted Police force. Mr Monclair is out of chances, he is going to made an example of to show that we will not allow that kind of behavior in this command. I am not happy that things have been allowed to happen for as long as they have. I will also be dealing with those that let it happen when I return to Hamilton."
"You can't do that." Monclair yelled. "Don't you know who my father is."
"Shut up!" William yelled.
Suddenly William, Charles and Edward were all yelling at one another and Belanger was yelling at them as well. Wynn, Bill and Jacobs were trying to get everyone's attention and no one was listening to the others. McGinty happened to step back in the jail about that time. He quickly looked around before letting out a sharp whistle that Charlotte had taught him.
"Enough!" McGinty said sharply. "I can hear you all outside. The next person to speak without permission, will not like the result."
Everyone turned and looked at McGinty. Suddenly it was quiet enough to hear a pin drop in the jailhouse.
"Sorry, Sir." McGinty said, walking up to Wynn. "I just didn't think that everyone in town needed to hear this."
"No apologies needed." Wynn said. "Is there a crowd outside?"
"Yes." McGinty said. "They saw the transport wagon and several Mounties in town. They are wondering what is going on. The men are still at the cafe, but I have Monclair's things and his horse it tied up outside."
McGinty set Monclair's things down by the door.
"See if you can get people to move along." Wynn said.
"I will try." McGinty said.
McGinty turned and went back out the door. Ignoring Belanger and the three men in the cells, Bill went over to Wynn.
"Impressive." Bill said. "At least he is learning. I know that Charlotte taught him that. I have seen her do that a number of times. At least it worked. Now what are we going to do."
No one noticed that Elizabeth had come out of the back room and was standing by the stove.
"I am going to have my say." Elizabeth said.
"Beth." Wynn said.
"No." Elizabeth said. "I have heard everything. I have a few things to say. I don't care what Belanger hears, because nothing I am going to say isn't the absolute truth."
"Fine." Wynn said.
Jacobs backed Belanger up against the back wall between the two cells and then stood there. Dee sat back down at the desk, ready to record what Elizabeth said. Wynn and Bill moved to allow Elizabeth to step into view. William made to say something, but Jacobs cut him off.
"You were not given permission to speak." Jacobs said. "I would suggest that you close your mouth and open your ears before you really piss me off."
To prove his point, Jacobs glared at the three men in the cells until they all backed off and sat down.
"Mrs Thornton." Jacobs said. "You may have your say. No one will interrupt you."
"Thank you Sergeant Jacobs." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth walked a few steps closer to Monclair's cell. She glared at him for a moment before she spoke.
"You are a disgusting excuse of a man." Elizabeth said. "Seriously, you tried to get with a fifteen year old. One of my students! You are the worst kind of man and I hope that you get what is coming to you. I am also glad that she is willing to testify against you. You have gotten away with treating women wrong for too long. I can't believe that you think it is okay to talk that way to women, much less a child. I never want to see you again, because if you ever come near one of my students again, you will be sorry."
"She didn't look fifteen." Monclair retorted.
Before Elizabeth could say anything, Jacobs let out a low growl and glared at Monclair.
"If you had an ounce of brains in your head." Elizabeth said. "Then spoke and actually listened to her for five seconds, you would have realized that she was just a child."
Elizabeth didn't say anything else, but spun on her heel and glared at Charles and her father. She had her serious scary teacher face on. She put her hands on her hips as she glared at the two men sitting before her. Elizabeth paced back and forth in front of the cell for a few moments glaring at her father and Charles with her scary teacher face. Bill and Wynn even winced when they saw the way that Elizabeth was looking at the two. They were going to give her time to speak. Before Elizabeth could speak, McGinty came back in. He saw what was going on, so he quietly took a seat at the table. He gave Dee a look and they both just shook their heads. Neither had seen Elizabeth like this and it was a little terrifying.
"Are you going to speak or just glare at us." Charles hissed.
That earned another growl from Jacobs. Elizabeth stopped and stared right at Charles.
"What part of leave me alone, don't you understand?" Elizabeth asked. "I have asked you to leave me alone. Jack told you to leave me alone. Bill threatened you to leave me alone and yet you continue to harass me, claiming that I am yours. I am not yours, never have been and never will be. Get it through your head – I … NEVER … WANT … TO … SEE … YOU … AGAIN!"
"You can't mean that." Charles said standing up.
With Charles standing up, Wynn moved to stand next to Elizabeth.
"I, do so mean it." Elizabeth said. "I don't ever want to hear you call me yours again, and if I do, there will be repercussions."
"You can't threaten my client." Belanger yelled.
Elizabeth spun to face him still in scary teacher mode, fists on her hips and all.
"It is not a threat." Elizabeth said. "It is a promise. I am a married woman, an upstanding member of this community and by Mr Kensington claiming that I am his, he is damaging my reputation, which I will not allow. He is causing trouble for me with the board of education and could cost me my job if he keeps it up with his lying. If that happens, I am coming after him."
"I will help her." Jacobs said.
"I will as well." Wynn said.
Neither Belanger or Charles said anything else. Charles had never seen Elizabeth stand up for herself like this. He heard that she had yelled at her father back in October, but he didn't think it was true. He didn't like this side of Elizabeth. She had always been quiet and did what she was told. Charles realized that she had changed since coming out west.
"You have changed." Charles snarled. "And not for the better."
Jacobs turned to say something to Charles, but Elizabeth beat him to it. She took a step closer to where Charles was standing in the cell. She could have reached out and slapped him if she wanted. Instead she let out a harsh breath.
"Yes, I have changed." Elizabeth said. "I learned to stand up for myself. Jack likes that I am an independent woman and know what I want in life. Other than the fact that you would never have my heart, this is just another reason why we never would have worked out. I may not have always stood up for myself when we were growing up, but I am not afraid to speak up for myself anymore. I never would have been one to quietly smile and nod while a man made decisions for me."
"Elizabeth." Jacobs asked. "Is there anything else that you need to say to Mr Kensington?"
"No." Elizabeth said.
"Then he can sit down and shut up." Jacobs said.
Charles glared at Jacobs who turned and took a step toward the cell. Wynn did as well, while Elizabeth stepped back just a bit. Charles glared at the two men before sitting down. When Jacobs stepped back, Charles looked at Belanger who shrugged his shoulders. Elizabeth moved to glare at her father.
"Why can't you just let me live my life?" Elizabeth asked.
"Because you have your head in the clouds." William said. "One day you are going to wake up and realize everything that you have given up and then it is going to be too late. Marrying a Mountie is nothing but heartbreak. You are going to end up a widow with a bunch of little brats running around that you can't support."
Jacobs growled. Wynn and Bill both let out a harsh breath.
"I will take as much time with Jack that the Lord will allow." Elizabeth said. "I will never regret choosing Jack and I hope that we have a house full of children. I don't want a life in Hamilton. I am going to raise my children here, surrounded by people that love the two of us. If the unthinkable happens to Jack, I know that I will be fine because I have an entire community that supports me."
"She will also always have the support of the Mounties." Wynn said.
William stood up and walked to the bars. He looked at Elizabeth.
"Ní bheidh do leanaí mar oidhrí Thatcher choíche." William said in Irish. (Your children will never be Thatcher heirs.)
Elizabeth stared at her father for a moment before answering.
"Coinnigh suas é agus caillfidh tú níos mó ná mar a cheapann tú." Elizabeth replied in Irish. (Keep it up and you will lose more than you think.)
William just looked at her. Wynn smiled as he knew what each had said. Elizabeth turned to Wynn.
"Can someone please walk me home?" Elizabeth asked.
"I will." McGinty said standing up.
"Thank you, Joe." Elizabeth said.
"Awfully friendly with another Mountie." Charles snarled. "Maybe she really is a …."
"Don't even finish that thought." Jacobs growled.
Charles just glared at Jacobs.
"For your information." McGinty said, coming to stand next to Elizabeth. "Jack Thornton is one of my best friends. I would never do anything to dishonor him. Not only that, we are brothers in arms, we respect each other. I have been here to help Jack over the last number of months. Jack and Elizabeth even invited me to stay in their house while they went to Hamilton. For someone claiming to love someone else, you sure have a dirty mind."
McGinty then turned to Elizabeth.
"Ready?" McGinty asked.
"Yes, please." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth took a step forward and McGinty put his arm around her to lead her out of the office. As he did that, William was at the bars again.
"This isn't over!" William bellowed.
Elizabeth didn't even look back, but went out on to the boardwalk. McGinty followed her, pulling the door closed as he did.
