Chapter 154 – Baby Talk

After reading several chapters in the Bible, Jack and Elizabeth leaned back on the couch and just enjoyed being in each other's company and the quiet. Jack had his hand on Elizabeth's stomach as was his custom of late whenever they were laying together. What Jack really wanted to do was take Elizabeth back upstairs, but he wasn't sure what time Dee was coming back and he also knew that they were expected in town. After a bit Jack moved Elizabeth and looked at her.

"You know." Jack said. "It is quite possible that we could have twins, especially given family history. I think that we should have two boys names and two girls names picked out."

"I agree about the names." Elizabeth said. "But there aren't twins in my family, at least that I know of. There might be some in my grandparents' siblings, but I don't know. So I don't know how likely that we would have them."

"I don't know." Jack said. "It is just a feeling that I have had the last few days. I know in my heart that we will have twins at some point. I know it like I knew you were the woman of my dreams when we met."

Elizabeth looked at him, scrunched up her nose and shook her head.

"Jack Thornton." Elizabeth said. "If I have twins, we are definitely hiring a nanny and then we are going to wait to have more."

"Whatever you want." Jack said with a dimpled grin. "I am going to make a point of asking Faith if she can tell. At least that way we can be ready."

"You do that." Elizabeth said.

"So back to the names." Jack said. "I want names that mean something to us, not just random ones that we pulled out of a book."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "So what were you thinking?"

Jack thought for a bit. He got up, got his little notebook and then sat back down.

"I think we need a list." Jack said. "I doubt that we will agree right away."

"True." Elizabeth said. "Don't forget the no go list. I am sorry to say that Charlotte is on that list as it is the female version of Charlie."

"Would you consider it for a middle name?" Jack asked.

"I will think about it." Elizabeth said. "I am still too angry."

"Understandable." Jack said. "So you have any names to add to the possible list?"

"Isabelle and Hannah for girls." Elizabeth said.

"I don't know if I love those." Jack said. "But I will add them. Why did you choose those two?"

"I have always liked Isabelle." Elizabeth said. "It means pledged to God. I want to use Hannah because it means grace and it would be a way to use part of my name without upsetting people by using my mother's name."

"Okay." Jack said. "What were your grandmother's names?"

"My grandparents on my mother's side were Benjamin and Dorothy." Elizabeth said. "My father's parents were Conrad and Ellen. What about you?"

"Well as you know." Jack said. "My father's parents were Alexander and Margaret. I think my mother's parents were Daniel and Johanna. They died before I was born."

"I like Daniel." Elizabeth said. "I also wouldn't mind Benjamin."

"I will put them both on the list." Jack said.

"Are there any that you like?" Elizabeth asked.

"I wouldn't mind Johanna." Jack said. "I need to think more about it."

"I know that you never knew about her until recently." Elizabeth said. "But would you consider Caitlin for a girl?"

"I will put it on the list." Jack said. "I am not sure, but I am willing to consider it."

"This is going to be harder than I thought." Elizabeth said. "I still wouldn't mind a little Jack running around."

"How about this?" Jack said. "We each create a list of ten boys' names and ten girls' names. We will then compare lists and narrow it down from there. I am still not sure about Jack Jr. Let me think about it."

Elizabeth nodded and then looked at Jack with a question.

"First or first and middle?" Elizabeth asked.

"Whatever you want." Jack said. "We can always talk about middle names later."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I also think we need to pray about godparents and guardians."

"I agree." Jack said. "But I already had a few ideas about godparents."

"Who?" Elizabeth asked.

"I was thinking maybe Dee or Joe." Jack said. "We don't have to only do one of each. We can do multiple. As far as I know there is no rule. We would have to talk to Frank to be sure."

"Good point." Elizabeth said. "I was thinking about Dee as well. I think that no matter who the godparents are, ALL of our children need to have the same guardians. God forbid that something happens to us, I don't want them to be separated."

"I agree." Jack said. "I think we need to pray about it."

"We have plenty of time to talk about things." Elizabeth said. "I honestly don't think that he or she will be here before September."

"Hopefully as you get further along." Jack said. "Faith will be able to narrow it down better."

Jack looked at the clock and it was getting close to eleven.

"Want to head into town or wait?" Jack asked.

"I think we can head in." Elizabeth said. "Take your sketchbooks and messenger bag. If you want to rest, I am sure that Abigail wouldn't mind if you went upstairs."

"Sounds good." Jack said.

As they were getting things ready to head into town, there was a knock at the door. Jack went to open it and saw Jacobs standing there with both horses plus his.

"Morning." Jacobs said. "Wynn sent me to bring you in. He had a bad feeling and wanted you close."

"We were just getting ready to head in." Jack said. "Any idea what the bad feeling is about?"

"Nope." Jacobs said. "Just doing as ordered."

"Give us five minutes." Jack said.

Jacobs nodded and Jack shut the door.

"Who was that?" Elizabeth asked as she came down the stairs.

"Jacobs." Jack said. "He is waiting to bring us in."

"Everything okay?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know." Jack said. "Honestly."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I am ready."

"So am I." Jack said.

Jack bolted the back door, put on his gunbelt and grabbed his ranch hat. He had his messenger bag across his shoulder.

"Grab a light jacket." Elizabeth said.

Jack grabbed his jacket and looped through his bag like he had done in the past. He then led Elizabeth from the house and locked the door.

"I am just going to let Lee know that we are headed in." Jack said.

Jack went over and knocked on Lee's door. After a few minutes, Jack returned and looked at Elizabeth.

"Need help?" Jack asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said.

"I got it." Jacobs said. "As long as you don't mind. I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"I am okay with it." Jack said. "Bella?"

"I guess." Elizabeth said. "I don't want you to hurt your shoulder or ribs."

"Let me give Jack a hand up and then I will get you." Jacobs said.

Jacobs gave Jack a hand up. Elizabeth saw how he cupped his hand and Jack used it as a step.

"I think I can do the same thing as you did for Jack." Elizabeth said.

"Okay." Jacobs said. "Grab the saddle horn and use my hands as a step to swing over."

Elizabeth did as Jacobs said and easily got up into the saddle. Jacobs quickly mounted up, looked around and then started toward town. When Jacobs looked around, Jack did as well and that was when he noticed his mother's tent was missing. He made a mental note to ask Jacobs and/or Wynn about that later. He wondered if she stayed at Abigail's or got a room at the saloon.

After leaving his father, Dee headed to the jail first and grabbed keys. Once he had the keys, he headed to the back door of the mercantile and entered. He went to the telegraph and started sending messages. As he was sending messages to Hamilton and Fort Garry, he made a note to talk to his father about getting a line directly to the Mountie station like Union City had, especially if they were going to be spending a lot of time there. As Dee thought more about it, he knew that the telephone would be coming within a few years, but a secure telegraph line would still be of use.

After forty-five minutes, Dee had as much information as he was going to get at the moment. He sent a message to Hamilton and Fort Garry that he would check back with them after six his time and once he had received a reply back from each, left a note for Ned and locked the office back up. He wasn't sure that his father was going to be happy or not, since he didn't get a lot of information, but it was what it was.

After leaving the mercantile, Dee went across the road to Abigail's office. He used the keys to unlock the door. Once he was in the office, he stoked the fire and started trying to make sense of what he had learned. He still hadn't heard what happened to the real Captain Campbell, but he felt that they had enough to arrest the fake Campbell if his father wanted. Twenty minutes after he entered the office, Dee had written out everything for his father and then looked over what else he knew. He still felt that there was something that they were missing. He wondered if his father would let him and Jacobs have a run at Dominic Amto.

Hoping that his father would agree, Dee wrote out what they knew about Amto and questions that they wanted answered. He then wrote out everything that they knew about Charles Kensington and William Thatcher. He made several lists and left everything on the table. He knew that his father wouldn't want to talk in front of Abigail and everyone else that was over at the cafe. Dee banked the fire and locked the door before heading over to the cafe.

Wynn entered the cafe and immediately his wife gave him a look. He knew that she was upset, so he took a deep breath and went to her.

"I promise I will explain everything that I can later." Wynn whispered. "I don't want to upset everyone. Let's just try to have a nice afternoon."

Elizabeth Rose nodded, but she also made a note to herself that she was going to find out what was going on.

"Fine." Elizabeth Rose said. "McGinty was looking for you."

"Is he over at the jail?" Wynn asked.

"I think so." Elizabeth Rose said.

"Okay." Wynn said. "I will head over there. Jacobs is bringing Jack and Beth in."

"Patty." Elizabeth Rose said.

"Yes." Patty said.

"Would please help Wynn with something." Elizabeth Rose said. "It won't take long."

Patty nodded. She followed Wynn to the door and onto the porch before turning to him.

"What did you need?" Patty asked.

"Jacobs went to get Jack and Beth." Wynn said. "My wife is worried about me walking alone. Will you please walk me to the jail and then you can return to help the ladies finish up lunch. I will have McGinty walk me back."

"Not a problem." Patty said.

The two of them walked to the jail. There were a few people out, but not many. Wynn wasn't worried as he knew that most people had gone back home after services to have a nice Easter dinner. He figured that the children would be out playing later. He just hoped that most people could have a relaxing afternoon. When they got to the jail. Patty waited until she knew that someone had Wynn. She saw both Bill and McGinty. Once she saw that, she headed back to the cafe. Wynn stepped into the jail and saw both Bill and McGinty, both of whom had waved to Patty while she had been on the porch.

"Joe." Wynn said. "I was told you were looking for me."

"Yes, Sir." McGinty said. "I was wondering if I would be able to ride back to Benson Hills and get a few things. I had not prepared for an extended stay."

"As long as you take provisions and your rifle." Wynn said.

"Of course, Sir." McGinty said.

"Then I see no problem." Wynn said. "We have plenty of people here. Do you expect to be back this evening?"

"Yes." McGinty said. "It might be getting dark, but I will take a lantern."

Wynn nodded and then motioned for McGinty to step out with him.

"I will be here." Bill said. "Do you think someone can bring me a plate and one for the prisoner. I am not feeling up to being around a lot of people today. Joe, if for some reason you get held up, please send me a message."

"I will." McGinty said.

"I will make sure that food is sent over." Wynn said. "Let me know if there is anything else that you need."

"I will." Bill said.

Wynn and McGinty stepped out on the porch.

"Was there something that you needed, Sir?" McGinty asked.

"Two things actually." Wynn said. "I want you to walk me back to the cafe. My wife is worried about me being out alone and Jacobs went to get Jack and Beth. Second, if I send a message along with you, can you make sure that it gets sent from Benson Hills."

"Absolutely, Sir." McGinty said. "Is there a reason that you don't want Dee or Jacobs to send it from here?"

"Just covering my bases." Wynn said. "Besides, I haven't said anything to Dee yet."

McGinty looked at his commanding officer with a raised eyebrow.

"I will explain and by the time that you get back." Wynn said. "I will have told him."

"Okay." McGinty said. "I am not sure that Mr Nichols is open, but I can check. If not, I can leave it to be sent right away tomorrow."

"If possible." Wynn said. "Please see if you can find Mr Nichols and see if he can send it and get a response back."

"Yes, Sir." McGinty said.

Wynn and McGinty headed back to the cafe and as they were walking, they saw Jacobs return with Jack and Elizabeth. They all reached the steps of the cafe about the same time.

"You go ahead and go in." Wynn said. "Jacobs, care for the horse and then come back here. I am just giving Instructions to McGinty here."

Jack looked at Wynn and then McGinty. McGinty nodded to Jack that it was okay. Jack went into the cafe with Elizabeth and Jacobs headed to care for the horses.