Author's note: Another mild steam alert here for Jack and Elizabeth
Chapter 148 – Easter Sunday Morning part 2
Elizabeth woke up Sunday morning sick again. As she got out of bed and was sick, she woke Jack up. He quickly moved to help Elizabeth.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said as she slumped back against the bed.
"I will go get some tea and toast." Jack said.
"Jack." Elizabeth said.
"What?" Jack said.
"You might want to put some more clothes on." Elizabeth smirked.
Jack looked down and realized he was just wearing his underwear. He smiled and blushed a little. He quickly went, pulled on pajama pants and shirt. He put his slippers on and grabbed a robe before heading downstairs. When Jack got downstairs, Dee was in the kitchen making some coffee.
"Hey." Dee said. "Everything alright?"
"No." Jack said. "Elizabeth was sick again this morning."
"What do you need?" Dee asked.
"I was going to make her some tea and toast." Jack said.
"I got that." Dee said. "Go be with her. I will bring it up in a bit."
"Thanks." Jack said. "Just knock on our door. I don't think she wants to see anyone."
"Got it." Dee said.
Jack quickly went back upstairs and helped Elizabeth back into bed.
"Dee is making tea and toast." Jack said. "He will bring it up."
"I don't want him to see me like this." Elizabeth said.
"I told him to just knock on the door." Jack said.
Jack took the bucket by the bed and put an empty one there. He took the bucket downstairs and rinsed it out. As he headed back up, Dee was right behind him. Jack set the bucket down and took the tray from Dee.
"Thank you." Jack said. "Why don't you head into town. We are going to stay here for now. If Elizabeth is feeling up to it, we will come in closer to lunch time."
"Got it." Dee said. "Don't forget you have guards out front and in back, they will probably come into town when you come in. If you are not in town after services, I will be back to check. I will let Mom and Dad know that you won't be coming in for services."
Jack nodded and Dee left. Jack took the tray into Elizabeth.
"Dee is going to head into town." Jack said.
"I heard." Elizabeth said.
Jack set the tray down, shed his clothes and went around to sit with Elizabeth. Seeing that there was also a cup of tea for him, he took his and sipped from it. Elizabeth slowly sipped her tea and took a couple bites of the toast.
"Is there anything else that I can do?" Jack asked.
"Just give me a little time." Elizabeth said. "I will let you know. I am hoping that this settles my stomach enough that I can lay back down for a bit."
"Okay." Jack said.
Wynn looked at his wife when she sat down. He thought she would be helping in the kitchen so he was surprised that she took a moment to sit with them. Wynn looked around and saw that most of the Mounties/Cadets were finishing up eating. Wynn nodded to Jacobs who stood up and cleared his throat. Everyone looked at Jacobs.
"There is more if you want." Jacobs said. "If you are done, there are chores that need to be done. Someone needs to relieve Constable Patel so that he can eat. Sheriff Avery has a list of chores at the jail for you. A third tent also needs to be put up for the other five cadets that are coming in. Ask Bill or McGinty where it is. I want as many of you on horseback and in the back at the outdoor services this morning. Direct your questions to Sheriff Avery this morning as I will be with the Deputy Commissioner."
Several of the cadets stood up and brought their plates forward. Elizabeth Rose stood up and moved to the kitchen. Patty and Elizabeth Rose served a second helping to several of the young men. While that was happening, there was a knock at the front door. McGinty stood and saw who it was. He let Eddie in and told him to take a seat. McGinty then went to the kitchen to let them know that Eddie was there. Patty came out with a plate of food and a cup of coffee for Eddie. Once the cadets had been served, Elizabeth Rose returned to the table with a cup of coffee.
"How was the French toast?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"Very good, ma'am." Becky said with a smile.
"Yes, very good." Jacobs said.
"Becky." Elizabeth Rose said. "If you are comfortable enough, you can call me Mrs Delaney or even Elizabeth if we are not in school."
"Okay." Becky said. "I will try to remember. At the orphanage it was always ma'am."
"That is fine." Elizabeth Rose said. "I just don't want to think you have to be so formal, especially when we are here at the cafe."
Becky nodded.
As the cadets finished, several of them stood. Before anyone could say anything, McGinty let out a sharp whistle. Wynn and Jacobs looked at him and then the cadets. McGinty nodded to them. Jacobs stood up.
"I suggest that you pick up your plates and return them to the kitchen sink." Jacobs said. "Anyone who doesn't won't be allowed to eat inside this afternoon. This may be a cafe, but Mrs Stanton is not officially open today so you are to clean up after yourselves."
Becky just looked over and giggled at the young men. Elizabeth Rose looked at Jacobs and mouthed a 'thank you' to him. He nodded in return. Once all the cadets had taken their dishes to the kitchen, he dismissed them. After the door closed, Jacobs sat back down.
"I know that we didn't talk about it." Jacobs said. "But I am also not going to make more work for Mrs Stanton then we have to. Besides, they should be grateful, I let them have seconds. They might just get spoiled eating here."
"I thought about that as well." Elizabeth Rose said. "But what else can we do? The saloon is not serving food this weekend and they need to eat."
"They can eat rations." Jacobs said. "I know that they have enough for three days in their packs and we still have a couple of cases in storage."
"I agree." Wynn said. "Anyone who doesn't follow orders will eat rations, but for today they can eat at the cafe."
"Okay." Jacobs said.
"Remind me to stay on your good side." Becky said, looking at Wynn.
"No problem there." Wynn said. "I only show my gruff side with cadets."
"So do you think that there will ever be women Mounties?" Becky asked.
"I think so." Wynn said. "I don't think that it will happen in my lifetime, but maybe yours. There are already several larger cities in the States that have women as police officers."
"Cool." Becky said.
"Why do you ask?" Jacobs asked.
"One of the girls that I was at the orphanage with." Becky said. "Her older brother is a Mountie and she wanted to be one as well."
Jacobs, McGinty and Wynn all looked at Becky.
"What was her name?" Jacobs asked.
He was thinking the same thing as both Wynn and his wife. They wanted to know why there is a sibling of a Mountie in an orphanage.
"Vanessa Lessard." Becky said. "I don't remember much about her. She wasn't there long before I took off. She was about Cody's age."
Wynn didn't even have to say anything. Jacobs looked at him and nodded that he would look into who Vanessa Lessard was related to and what happened. He also knew that Wynn wanted the information as soon as possible. He also figured that Wynn wanted to know where the girl was at this time since the orphanage closed.
"Do you miss the other children?" McGinty asked.
"Not really." Becky said. "I was one of the older children, I was always busy helping with the little ones or doing chores. I didn't get a lot of free time to play with the other children. Then I got sick and I was put in a separate room in the basement. Shortly after that, I took Cody and we ran away."
"I am sorry that happened to you." Jacobs said.
"Not your fault." Becky said. "You weren't the drunk man that killed my parents."
Jacobs looked at Becky. He also knew that he was going to be looking into what happened to this girl and her brother. He might not have been here when she got sick, but he was going to make sure that nothing else happened to them if he could help it. He wanted to make sure Becky felt safe and loved. He also wanted to make sure that the man who had killed her parents was punished.
"Still." Jacobs said.
"It is Easter." Elizabeth Rose said. "Let's talk about something else."
Wynn looked at his wife and then at Becky. He realized that she was more upset then she let on and was thankful that his wife had picked up on it and changed the subject.
Jack and Elizabeth were able to lay back down after she finished her tea and toast. She was glad that her stomach had settled down. It was the first time that she had been sick in the morning in over a week. She wondered if it was going to be an ongoing issue. She made a mental note to talk to Faith about it on Tuesday. Jack laid on his back and Elizabeth put her head on his good shoulder. She wasn't really tired, but she also didn't want to get up.
Elizabeth looked up at Jack who was laying there with his eyes closed. He wasn't sleeping, but just resting. Elizabeth started to lightly dance her fingers across Jack's bare chest and stomach. Elizabeth watched as Jack's muscles responded to her touch. Jack tried to resist Elizabeth's advances, not because he didn't want to be with his wife, but to prolong their time together. He was doing a good job until Elizabeth upped her game by moving her dancing fingers lower and lower across his abdomen. She also started to move her foot up and down Jack's lower leg.
Finally unable to resist any longer, Jack tightened his grip on Elizabeth and in one motion, he rolled over on top of her. As he did that, he captured her lips with his. It didn't take long and Jack pressed into Elizabeth. As Jack pressed in, Elizabeth danced her fingers across Jack's lower back and hips causing him to push deeper and faster. They quickly came together. Jack fell back on the bed completely breathless. Elizabeth heard Jack's ragged breaths even as her own evened out. She was concerned that she had pushed Jack too far. She looked up at him and despite the smile on his face, she also saw the pain on his face.
"Are you alright?" Elizabeth asked.
"I … will … be." Jack managed to gasp between breaths.
Elizabeth moved off Jack's chest and helped him sit up.
"Thank … you." Jack said.
"I am sorry." Elizabeth said. "I shouldn't have pushed you so hard. You are still recovering."
"Not..hing … to … be … sorry about." Jack said. "I …."
"No talking." Elizabeth said. "Just try to take a few deep breaths."
Slowly Jack was able to regain his breath.
"See all good." Jack said.
Elizabeth gave him a tight smile as they scooted back to lay down and rest some more.
