Chapter 120 – Family Time with Jack and Elizabeth

The Delaneys walked over to the saloon and up to the room they would be staying in. Both Dee and Wynn quickly changed into casual clothes. When they were done, they both strapped their sidearms back on before grabbing the lighter coats that Elizabeth Rose had brought for them. Elizabeth Rose wanted to say something to Wynn about Dee, but chose to wait and see how he was over supper. When they were ready, Dee and Wynn grabbed their messenger bags and they headed out toward Jack and Elizabeth's house. Before they got too far from town, Dee stopped.

"I think I am going to check the mercantile." Dee said. "I want to see if there are any messages or mail for Jack."

"We will go ahead." Wynn said.

"It won't take me long." Dee said. "I will catch up. Just wait to tell them what is going on until I get there."

"I will." Wynn said.

Dee turned around and headed back toward the mercantile, while his parents continued on toward Jack and Elizabeth house. Wynn and Elizabeth Rose were glad to have a few moments together.

"Are you sure that you are doing alright?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"Yes." Wynn said. "I am worried about Dee and everything going on in town, but I am doing okay."

"I understand if you can't talk about it." Elizabeth Rose said. "But what is going on? I am worried about Dee as well. He had his tea this afternoon at the cafe. He didn't want me to say anything, but I think that you need to know. He said it was his hip and leg. He thinks that he just overdid it yesterday with the graves."

"I will keep an eye on him." Wynn said.

"Thank you." Elizabeth Rose said. "Now what were you saying?"

"We learned more about Henry Gowen." Wynn said. "Because of the slide at Silverton, we discovered a few things. I have been trying to get to the bottom of everything, but it is like I am not seeing the whole picture. That is why I am glad that Jacobs is here. He has been a big help, not only with that stuff, but with William as well. I honestly don't know what would have happened to Beth if Jacobs hadn't been there when he was. We were just coming back from the large funeral and Charles or William had a hold of Beth and was trying to pull her toward the waiting car. When Jacobs intervened, Charles went to hit Beth. Jacobs stopped him then arrested both with the help of McGinty. Charles and/or William left marks on Beth's arms. She hasn't said anything, but I am sure that she still has marks.

Jacobs was also able to get things for the children set up. I think we would be a lot worse off if he wasn't here. I am glad that he volunteered for the protection detail, not that he really gave me a choice in the matter. Normally, I would write him up for insubordination, but I need him here too much. I guess we are even, since I didn't give him a chance to turn down the promotion and the move to Benson Hills. It is just frustrating because we all agree we are missing something, but we have no idea what it is."

"Why Jacobs?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"He is the grandson of Sir John MacDonald." Wynn said. "His uncle is also the Honorable Jonathan MacDonald. Jacobs got his barrister license while at the Mountie academy in Regina. He has been working as both a lawyer when needed and a Mountie. He has turned down a promotion to inspector before because he felt that he could do more good as a Constable. I promoted him to Sergeant this time and will eventually be in charge at Benson Hills."

"Wow." Elizabeth Rose said. "I would have never recognized him."

"Good." Wynn said. "He likes it that way. Very few people know that he has his barrister license and even fewer know who his family is. I have no intention of telling people that don't need to know. I think that is why he is also understanding of what Beth is going through with her father. Granted his family has always been supportive, but he knows what it is like to want your privacy. I am also glad that he is going to be in the area to help Jack and keep an eye on Beth."

"Me too." Elizabeth Rose said.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Just as they passed through the grove trees, Dee caught up with them. He was a little out of breath, so they stopped to let him catch his breath.

"You didn't have to run." Wynn said.

"I know." Dee said. "But I thought you would want to see this."

Dee handed his father a wire message.

DC Delaney, Hope Valley, Alberta

Hamilton Office of the RNWMP

Details in place in Ottawa. No worries. Still looking for other connections will send information when available. Stay safe.

Superintendent Anderson

"At least it is good news." Wynn said.

"You added Sophie to the protection?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"Yes." Wynn said. "I wasn't going to take any chances with our grandson. I don't think that she is in any danger, but better safe than sorry."

"I agree." Dee said. "Dad and I can protect ourselves, Sophie can't."

"She is not helpless." Elizabeth Rose said. "But I know what you mean. It is times like this that I wish that she was closer. If she would have been Hamilton, I don't know if I would have come out here, especially if I had known about the detail, I don't know if I could have left her. I know that she will be safe. If I haven't said it, I am glad that I am here and not alone in Hamilton."

"I am glad that you are here as well." Wynn said.

"I am glad as well." Dee said.

The three finished walking to Jack and Elizabeth's house. They knocked on the door and waited. While they were waiting, Charlotte came up and joined them. Wynn knocked again, but there was no answer. When he tried the door it was locked.

"I will go around back." Charlotte said.

Charlotte went around back and found the door unlocked. She went in and unlocked the door for the Delaneys. When they came into the house, they could smell the roast in the oven.

"I wonder if they are sleeping?" Elizabeth Rose said.

"Probably." Charlotte said.

Elizabeth Rose went to the kitchen to check on supper. Wynn and Dee went to the room that Wynn had been in. They dropped their bags and gathered their dirty clothes to be dealt with the next day.

When Wynn came back out, he saw Elizabeth coming down the steps.

"Sorry." Elizabeth said. "Jack and I laid back down. I didn't think that you would be here this early. I really want to know what happened this morning."

"We will tell you." Dee said. "But let's wait for Jack. I highly doubt that Dad wants to repeat himself and I am sure that Jack wants to know as well."

Elizabeth just sighed. She wanted to know, but she also knew that Dee was right.

"It is okay." Charlotte said. "We are here early. Just sit down and they will explain everything. Dee is right, we need to wait for Jack."

Elizabeth just looked at Charlotte, but silently agreed.

"I was getting frustrated with paperwork." Wynn said. "Jacobs encouraged me to call it a night and spend some time with you. I will explain everything and they are right, I am going to wait for Jack."

"Well." Elizabeth said. "I am glad. Jack should be down a little bit."

Elizabeth Rose greeted her niece with a big hug. She was so happy that they were expecting. She knew that Jack and Beth would be wonderful parents. Besides that, it gave her another excuse to come visit more often.

"What do you need?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"I think everything should be almost ready." Elizabeth said. "I was just going to make some biscuits to go with supper, but we have time."

"I will do that." Elizabeth Rose said. "You sit. I have stuff for you back at the hotel. I will bring it over later."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "In the last day or so, I have developed a little bump. My clothes still fit, but they won't last much longer."

"Well." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I have plenty of clothes from Sophie. So you will be fine."

"I will write her a letter and thank her." Elizabeth said. "I will also have to figure out a way to ship them back to her."

"Don't worry about it." Aunt Elizabeth said. "She told you to keep them. She isn't sure that they are going to have anymore and if they do, she will just get new."

"Thank you so much." Elizabeth said. "Not that we need to save the money, but it will be easier since we haven't told many people yet. I just wanted some time, especially with everything else going on."

"That is very considerate." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Sophie doesn't mind. Even though she doesn't go out much, she does like the latest styles and she said that if they decided to have another that the styles would have changed enough by then anyway."

"Things change at a slower pace out here." Elizabeth said.

"Very true." Charlotte said.

"I feel like there is more that I should be doing to help." Elizabeth said. "But I am having a hard time leaving Jack, especially now."

"What about school?" Aunt Elizabeth asked. "The ladies at the cafe said that it is going to be starting again on Monday."

"I had a few ideas." Elizabeth said. "I was looking at my lesson plans earlier. I was thinking I could go in on Monday morning, talk to the children, see where they are and collect the homework that they had for this past week. Then I was thinking that Charlotte could come in at lunch and I could go home. I was thinking of assigning a project for my regular students, that way if they are needed at home to help they could leave early and then Charlotte could work with some of the new students to see where they are and what they will be needing. From what I understand talking to Ann at the cafe, most of the boys from the Silverton settlement can at least read a little and know some things even though most haven't been in regular school for over a year or more. I have no idea about the children from Rock Creek."

"I think that might work." Charlotte said. "What sort of project were you thinking about?"

"I thought I would assign reading." Elizabeth said. "Then I want them to start thinking about something for a science fair. I got a notice that there is going to be a regional science fair the second week of May. We can have ours anytime this month. A county official will come and judge ours if we want, I just need to let them know when. The winner then will be entered into the regional competition with the overall regional winner able to secure a scholarship to a technical school designed for those that excel in science."

"That would be amazing." Charlotte said. "I would be more than willing to help the children with that. Science was one of my favorite things to teach."

"I was also thinking of bringing in my more advanced textbooks to help the children." Elizabeth said. "I have a few there, but I have several more here at the house."

"Would you have everyone do a project?" Charlotte asked.

"I wasn't sure." Elizabeth said.

"I think that it will be important for the younger children." Charlotte said. "They may not win, but I think the experience would be good for them."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Then the science project will be for everyone. I will do that instead of a different final project for everyone later."

"That sounds like a good idea." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I would also suggest that you maybe have a list of suggestions to help some of the children get started."

"I forgot." Elizabeth said.

"No problem." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I will do that."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "But you don't have to help."

"I want to." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I wouldn't mind helping Charlotte with the new students in the afternoon. I think then that we can keep all the children there. They have missed enough school."

"Thank you both so much." Elizabeth said. "So for this week, I will be there in the morning doing regular lessons and assign work for the afternoon. Then you two can work with the children on the science projects as well as helping get the new students to a place that they can fit in more easily."

"Do you have enough readers and things?" Wynn asked. "I know that was one of the questions at the town meeting the other night."

"I have at least a dozen new ones in the storage room." Elizabeth said. "I also have at least three dozen workbooks. I also have five or six extra Latin books. There is also a large box of pencils and chalk. Let me know if there is more that I need to order."

"I will go look tomorrow." Charlotte said. "I want to check out the science books and see what is there. I might wire my brother and have him send a few from Aberdeen for you to keep."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said.

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked, coming to the bottom of the stairs.

Jack came over and gave Elizabeth a kiss at the temple. He then took a seat next to her, scooting as close as he could at the table.

"We were figuring out what to do about school." Charlotte said.

"So what is the plan?" Jack asked. "I know that Elizabeth was worried about being away from me all day."

"Beth is going to take the morning." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Then Charlotte and I are going to take the afternoons. We will be working to help the new students and also be there if the other children have questions while they work on projects."

Jack leaned over and gave Elizabeth another kiss.

"It is so wonderful that we have two other teachers here." Jack said. "I think it will help take the pressure off of Elizabeth."

"I think it will also be easier for the children from Rock Creek." Dee said. "Charlotte has spent a lot of time with them and they know her."

"I didn't even think of that." Elizabeth said. "How many new students will there be?"

"Four from Silverton and three from Rock Creek." Dee said. "All boys. There are also three four year olds between the settlements, all girls. I am not sure when they will be five. Just something to think about for next year."