Chapter 138 – Moving A House

Dee sat down with his cup of coffee as his mother went out to let Bill and Jacobs know what was going on. Becky hiding a giggle drew Elizabeth's attention. She looked at Dee where Becky was looking, then at Becky and Elizabeth smiled to herself. Jack saw the smile on Elizabeth's face and leaned over.

"What is with the smile?" Jack asked.

Elizabeth leaned over to Jack and kissed his check.

"Look at the smile on Becky's face." Elizabeth whispered. "I think someone has a crush."

Jack looked at what Elizabeth said, then turned and smiled at her, nodding his head.

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Wynn asked.

"Baby names." Jack said with a grin.

"Care to share?" Dee asked.

"Nope." Elizabeth said. "You will just have to wait like the rest of them. We haven't agreed on anything, I just know what I don't want."

"I feel the same." Jack said. "I have a few ideas of what I want, but a much clearer idea of what I don't want."

"So can you tell us what you have ruled out?" Wynn asked.

"The obvious ones." Elizabeth said. "William, Charles, George and Edward are on my no go list, that includes the female version of each of them as well."

"Thomas, Margaret and Sarah." Jack said. "They are on the no go list for me. Granted, I wouldn't mind using Thomas as a middle name, but out of respect for my brother, I don't want to use it, especially as a first name."

"Okay." Wynn said. "I can see Thomas, but why not use your grandmother's name."

"To be honest." Jack said. "I don't have the best memories of her."

"Why not Sarah?" Becky asked. "It is such a pretty name."

Jack turned to Becky and smiled.

"I agree." Jack said. "It is a pretty name, but I know another little girl named Sarah and when I think of that name, I think of her."

"Okay." Becky said. "I can see that."

Wynn smiled as he knew more, but was waiting for Jack and Elizabeth to tell him what he had hoped that they would decide. Seeing them all talking and having a good time, Abigail came over with Dee's plate of food. She set it in front of him.

"What are you all talking about?" Abigail asked.

"Baby names." Elizabeth said. "We haven't agreed on anything, other than what we don't want."

"Well." Abigail said. "Sometimes that is easier and at least it is a place to start. It took Noah and I seeing Peter before we knew for sure what we were going to name him. We had two names each picked out for a boy or a girl."

"We were the same way." Elizabeth Rose said coming over.

"You might have been that way." Wynn said. "I knew that if we had a boy what I was going to name him."

Elizabeth Rose just smacked her husband on the shoulder.

"You just wanted a miniature you." Elizabeth Rose said.

"And despite having my name." Wynn said with a smile. "He is definitely your son."

Dee just shook his head, because he knew as much as he didn't want to admit it, other than looking similar and both being Mounties, Dee was much more his mother's son.

"I don't know if I want a junior." Jack said. "I think it makes it hard for the child to be their own person."

"I guess I don't mind." Dee said.

"Good to know." Jack said. "But I am still not sure."

"You will know the right name when the time comes." Abigail said.

"I will take your word for it." Elizabeth said. "Because right now, the thought is overwhelming."

Elizabeth Rose and Abigail went back to work and left the group at the table to finish this food and talk some more. The group finished eating and just sat there for a bit enjoying the time.

"Jack." Wynn said. "How are you doing? Are you going to be okay to head out?"

"I am fine." Jack said. "I have a warm shirt on and my light jacket. I will be in the back of the wagon. It will be okay."

"What are you talking about?" Becky asked.

"Jack wants to see the men move the cabin." Dee said.

"Can I go?" Becky asked.

"Ask Abigail?" Jack said. "I don't mind you sitting in the wagon with me."

Becky turned and moved away from the table.

"Mrs Stanton?" Becky said.

"Yes, Becky." Abigail said.

"Can I go with Mountie Jack to watch the men move the cabin?" Becky asked.

"As long as you promise to listen to Jack and what he says." Abigail said.

"I promise." Becky said.

"Then it is settled." Jack said. "Wynn, whenever you are ready. We should be ready."

"I will have someone go get the wagon." Wynn said. "Then we will get you two settled."

"On it." Dee said.

Dee got up and left the group. On the way out, he grabbed Jacobs who was still sitting in the cafe. They went to get the wagon so they could take Becky and the Thorntons to see the men move the cabin.

After Dee left, Wynn turned to Jack.

"Can I speak to you for a moment in private?" Wynn asked.

Jack nodded and then looked around for a moment.

"Abigail." Jack called.

"Yes." Abigail said.

"Can Wynn and I step upstairs to speak for a moment?" Jack asked.

"Sure." Abigail said. "I think it might be easier to just step out back or in the storage room."

Jack looked at Wynn as he wasn't sure what would be better.

"Storage room?" Jack asked.

Wynn nodded. Jack and Wynn got up and stepped into the storage room. Elizabeth looked at them and wondered what was going on. She figured it was Mountie business or it had something to do with what happened that morning. She was hoping that if it was something about what had happened that morning that Wynn would have also told her. Then she realized that he probably wanted to keep whatever was going on private, so that is why he wanted to talk to Jack alone. She also knew that she was going to ask about what was going on and not let Jack off the hook as far as telling her.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Jack asked when they were alone.

"I wanted to be able to talk to you more." Wynn said. "But since you are going to be out in the open, you need to know."

"The man this morning was after me." Jack said.

"Yes." Wynn said. "Before you ask, we still don't know who he is, but we found evidence that he was after you."

"What do you think?" Jack said. "I mean really. How much danger am I in? Is Elizabeth in danger?"

"We don't think Beth is in danger." Wynn said. "At least not the way that you think. As far as the danger to you, medium to high."

"Who do you think is behind this?" Jack said. "Someone that I put away or something else?"

Wynn hesitated for a second, that was all Jack needed to confirm what he was thinking.

"You think that Elizabeth's father might be behind this." Jack said.

"Maybe." Wynn said. "Bill and I agree that it would be more likely to be Charles, but we can't rule out someone from your past. We also can't rule out something else. The escaped prisoner who is after me was also known to your father, so it could still be connected. We just don't have enough information at this point."

Jack took a moment to think and then he looked Wynn square in the eye. He knew how to cut to the meat of the situation.

"What is your gut saying?" Jack asked. "Yes, your gut. I trust what you are thinking/feeling deep down."

"My gut." Wynn said. "It is telling me that we have two separated situations."

"Okay." Jack said. "Thank you for being honest with me. I take it that Elizabeth and I will have a protection detail until things are figured out."

"Yes." Wynn said. "Five Mounties have arrived and we are getting five cadets later this afternoon. I also suspect that the rest of the protection detail will start arriving this evening or tomorrow."

"I will be careful." Jack said. "I am more worried about Elizabeth."

"Keep her close." Wynn said. "We will do everything that we can to protect you both. Jacobs isn't going anywhere as long as the protection detail is needed. McGinty is also sticking around until you are back at full duty."

"Okay." Jack said. "Let's join the rest before Elizabeth gets more worried."

"Probably too late for that." Wynn said.

"Good point." Jack said. "What should I do?"

"You need to talk to her." Wynn said.

"I will later." Jack said.

Wynn nodded, then opened the door for Jack. Together they stepped out and saw that Dee was back. Dee saw that his father had talked to Jack, so he nodded to both that he understood that Jack knew at least minimally what was going on.

"Everything okay?" Elizabeth asked as Jack stopped next to her.

Jack leaned over and gave Elizabeth a kiss on the temple.

"Yes." Jack said. "We will talk about everything later."

Elizabeth gave him a look, but Jack just shook his head. She knew that she wasn't going to get anything out of him, but she wondered what Wynn had said. She was sure that Jack wasn't telling her everything, but then again he did say that they would speak later. While Elizabeth was deep in thought, Jack wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. He then leaned over and gave her a kiss on the temple again. Wynn and Dee saw the love and care that passed between Jack and Elizabeth, both of them smiled. Neither could understand why Elizabeth's father was behaving the way that he was. Actually that wasn't true, they figured that he was driven by money. They just knew that if William took some time to get to know Jack and Elizabeth together, that he would see what everyone else saw – how much they were in love with each other, how much they supported each other and how much they needed the other.

"Can we just enjoy this nice day?" Jack whispered. "I promise to tell you everything that I can when we get back to the house."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I want to know, but you are right that this is not the time or place."

Jack and Elizabeth followed Jacobs outside. They watched as he lifted Becky into the back of the wagon and made sure that she was settled and covered with a blanket. Jack and Elizabeth then climbed up in the wagon and settled under one of the blankets as well. Once they were set, Jacobs moved to the driver's seat of the wagon. Jack was a little surprised, but didn't voice what he was thinking. Jacobs led them to the south edge of town and found the perfect spot to park the wagon. It didn't take long and Jack heard the horses. He looked over and saw a team of eight horses and a moment later he spotted the cabin.

"Wow." Becky said when she saw.

"I agree." Elizabeth said. "I still have no idea how they did that.

"They jack the house up." Becky said. "Then once that happens, they can move the carriage underneath it. Once it is settled on the carriage, the horses are attached. It is slow moving, but they can move the building anywhere as long as the path is clear. I have seen them move smaller buildings, but never something like this. It looks like they used the logs to extend the carriage of the bed of the supply wagon."