Chapter 180 – Talking Baby Names

"I have no idea how I am going to narrow the list down." Elizabeth said. "Jack said to pick ten names for each a boy and a girl. I think I know what I want for a boy, but I can't pick a girl's name that I like."

"What were you thinking for a boy?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"You know how we want to stay away from certain names." Elizabeth said.

The other two women nodded.

"Well." Elizabeth said. "I think I came up with a way to honor two people very important to both Jack and I without using the names we agreed to stay away from."

"Care to share?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"What do you think about Peter Avery?" Elizabeth asked.

Patty flipped the book open and found the name Avery.

"A French and English name meaning 'ruler of elves.'" Patty read.

She then flipped the pages and found Peter.

"A Greek name meaning 'stone' or 'rock.'" Patty read.

"I like that." Elizabeth Rose said.

"Me too." Patty said.

"It is a nice way to honor both Bill and Abigail." Elizabeth Rose said.

"That is what I thought." Elizabeth said. "I also thought of Noah Spencer."

Patty flipped through the book and found Noah.

"A Hebrew name, most likely of Babylonian origin meaning 'repose' or 'rest.'" Patty read.

"What about Spencer?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"A British name meaning 'steward' or 'administrator.'" Patty read.

"I like either of those choices." Elizabeth Rose said.

Elizabeth nodded.

"I see you have several girls' names marked." Patty said. "Any you like more than others."

"Isabelle and Hannah." Elizabeth said. "But Jack wasn't too keen on them."

"Any names that he offered yet?" Patty asked.

"Not really." Elizabeth said. "It was easier to figure out what we didn't want."

"Usually it is." Elizabeth Rose said. "Just keep an open mind. You might have your heart set on one name and then you see the baby and a different name comes to you. That is what happened with Sophie."

"What were you going to name her before you chose Sophie?" Elizabeth asked.

"Ida." Elizabeth Rose said. "After Wynn's grandmother."

"Why Sophie then?" Elizabeth asked.

"It just seemed to fit." Elizabeth Rose said. "It means wisdom and being a teacher it just fits better."

"I agree, it fits her better." Elizabeth said. "I wonder how Mother came up with names for us girls."

"Well." Elizabeth Rose said. "You are named after me in a way. Julie is named after your great grandmother Julia. I am not sure where Viola came from."

"Good to know." Elizabeth said. "I never realized how hard it was going to be to pick a name. Even writing my stories, I have realized the importance of picking the right name."

"Your stories?" Elizabeth Rose asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I have been writing a collection of short stories about Hope Valley. All the way back to when I arrived almost a year ago. I sent off several to publishers last month, but have yet to hear back. I know that it is a long shot, but I wanted to write a collection of stories about a more realistic view of the west. It is based on Hope Valley and the people that live here and have passed through. I changed all the names. Abigail loved the idea. I have shared a bit with Jack, but not much. He knows that I was writing them and sent a bunch off, but I don't know that I have actually let him read the full manuscript. It is not like I am hiding it, but he didn't push to read it and I guess with everything else going on, I never actually gave him a copy."

"You should." Patty said.

"I think I might." Elizabeth said. "It might be good for him to read while he rests over the next couple weeks."

"So tell me a little more about these stories?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

Elizabeth told her aunt and Patty about the stories and how she started writing them when she was missing Jack when he left for Cape Fullerton. She told them about how even though they are all connected, they can be read as short one chapter stories by themselves.

"I would love to read them one day if you want to share." Elizabeth Rose said.

"I only have one copy right now." Elizabeth said. "I think I need to let Jack read them first."

"Of course." Elizabeth Rose said.

The ladies continued to talk as they finished up supper. They then sat down and worked on grading papers until the guys came for supper. At a little after six, Elizabeth went up to get Jack up. Patty followed her up a few minutes later and helped Jack downstairs. Jack settled in the sitting area with the ladies while they waited for Wynn and Dee and hopefully Charlotte to return for supper. Dee and Wynn arrived a few minutes before six thirty.

"Good to see you up." Wynn said motioning to Jack.

"Charlotte with you?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"She was playing cards in the saloon when I stopped by the room." Wynn said.

"Oh." Elizabeth Rose said.

"What happened?" Wynn asked, seeing the look on Jack and Elizabeth's faces.

They quickly explained what happened when Charlotte came after school.

"Let her be." Wynn said. "I will talk to her tomorrow if she doesn't come back tonight."

"I will be back with Jacobs later." Patty said. "I think you all need some family time. There are guards outside."

"Are you sure?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"Yes." Patty said. "You all need to talk and a game of cards sounds like fun."

Jack looked at Patty with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't look at me like that." Patty said. "I was raised with boys. Also with my job, I have gotten really good at a game of cards."

"Watch out for Ma." Jack said. "She only has one tell and it is hard to pick up on."

"Care to share?" Patty asked.

Jack laughed.

"What fun would that be?" Jack teased. "I will give you a hint. Watch her left foot."

"Okay." Patty said.

With that, Patty left and the guys went to wash up for supper as Elizabeth and her aunt put supper on the table. As they sat down, Wynn looked at Jack.

"When was the last time someone beat your mother at cards?" Wynn asked.

"I don't know." Jack said. "It has been awhile since she had been beaten badly."

"She might have met her match in Patty." Elizabeth Rose said. "She has played in some of the biggest card houses in Europe and the States."

"I will have to make a point and ask how she did." Jack said with a smile.

"Enough of that." Elizabeth said. "Let's have a nice supper."

They joined hands and Jack looked at Wynn.

"Heavenly Father." Wynn prayed. "We come before You tonight grateful for time together as a family. We ask that You continue to work Your healing in Jack. We also ask that You continue to watch over Elizabeth as she carries that little one You blessed them with. Please be with our family that is not with us tonight, watch over them and draw them closer to You. We also ask that You bless this food to our bodies and the hands that prepared it. Amen."

"Amen." Everyone else echoed.

As they passed the food around, Jack looked at Dee.

"Tell McGinty to come over tomorrow." Jack said. "I am surprised that he hasn't stopped by yet."

"I will tell him when he gets back to town." Dee said.

Jack went to open his mouth and Wynn held up his hand.

"He went to Buxton to do some research at the land office." Wynn said. "He found something and went to Union City following a lead. We are waiting to hear from him, but I also know that he won't do anything to put himself or the case in jeopardy."

"You are right there." Jack said. "He is good at research and he is smart about things."

Wynn nodded. He appreciated that Jack felt that way.

"What else is going on?" Jack asked. "I mean I can hear the construction going on across the field."

"We are kind of at a stand still." Wynn said. "Waiting on information or the go ahead to move forward with other things."

"So no word from Calgary?" Jack asked.

"No." Wynn said. "I expect to hear something tomorrow. If not, I am going to be wiring to see what is going on."

"Good." Jack said.

They talked about a few other things. Jack didn't eat much and everyone at the table noticed. As they finished up, Wynn looked at both Jack and Elizabeth.

"I know that you know I know." Wynn said. "We need to talk about what you have decided, if you have decided."

"The Russell girls." Elizabeth said.

Wynn and Elizabeth Rose nodded.

"We are taking them." Jack said.

"Just like that." Wynn asked.

"Yes." Jack said. "We have some questions for Andrew Russell, but we both feel we were meant to have the girls."

"We can't explain it." Elizabeth said. "We have talked about it between us and we both know that they were meant to be with us. We also know that it won't be without challenges. We understand that they come with a whole list of concerns, but we know we can deal with whatever comes."

"So what is your mother's problem?" Wynn asked.

"I don't know if it is the money." Jack said. "Or that we are expecting or what."

"Like I told her." Elizabeth said. "It isn't like they are coming tomorrow or even next week. It started when we talked a little about getting a nanny for them and probably security. It also led to talk about the need for a car. She got upset and said we didn't have room for guests, where were we going to put the girls, much less live in help."

"I agree that you probably need to be in the new house first." Wynn said.

"So are you looking at this fall?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I don't know if it is better to bring them here before the baby is born or wait until after. I also know that it will be an adjustment no matter what. Little Beth will have to start school here at some point, but if they come after school has started, I think I might keep her here at home until I go back. It might be easier with me in the classroom. Then the nanny can have Sarah and the baby at the house."

"Sounds good." Elizabeth Rose said.

"You know you are going to have to prepare any help about the conditions out here." Wynn said.

"We thought of that." Jack said. "The house will be wired for electricity, but it will be some time before we get it. We will have indoor bathrooms, but again, they will not be like they are used to in the city."

"I was going to ask you." Elizabeth said. "I know that you have so many other things to do."

"We would be glad to help in any way." Elizabeth Rose said. "I can meet with Andrew and Ingrid so we can choose someone that will be able to be out here."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "Don't forget to tell them that we are expecting as well."

"Depending on what happens." Wynn said. "Maybe we can bring the girls when we come out after the baby is born."

"That might work the best." Jack said.