Chapter 189 – Frustration Vented

Elizabeth woke up two hours after she had laid down. She waited a moment to listen to Jack's breathing. Despite having not done what he was told and went out to be in formation with the other Mounties, he didn't sound worse than he had the day before. She got up and made sure that Jack was still sleeping. She pulled her robe around her and headed downstairs. She stoked the fire in the stove and started some water to make tea.

Once she had her tea, she sat down at her desk to grade papers. Elizabeth was grading the essays and other homework that she was behind on when there was a knock on the door. Elizabeth stood up and pulled her robe tighter around her. She looked out the window and saw McGinty standing there. Elizabeth went to the door and cracked it open.

"Hey, there Joe." Elizabeth said. "Jack is sleeping."

"Okay." Joe said. "I heard that he was asking about me."

"Maybe stop by tomorrow." Elizabeth said. "I don't want to wake him. We had planned on a quiet night since we knew that others would be busy in town."

"No problem." Joe said. "Just tell him that I stopped by and will try to be out before lunch tomorrow."

"Sounds good." Elizabeth said. "I am glad that you are back safely."

"Thank you." Joe said.

Joe turned and headed back to town. Elizabeth closed the door and went back to her grading. After another hour of grading, she was almost caught up. As Elizabeth was thinking about what to heat up for supper, she heard Jack. She went and got a guard to help Jack downstairs. Once Jack was settled on the settee, Elizabeth took a seat next to him. Jack reached for her, so she scooted closer.

"Did I hear someone at the door earlier?" Jack asked.

"Joe McGinty stopped by." Elizabeth said. "He will try to come out tomorrow before lunch. Which reminds me that Pastor Frank might stop by as well. He asked about you this morning."

"That would be nice on both accounts." Jack said.

"So what do you want for supper?" Elizabeth asked.

"I still don't have much of an appetite." Jack said.

"There is soup left." Elizabeth said. "I was thinking about heating up some of the roast and veggies."

"Why don't you do that." Jack said. "You need them more than I do. If you heat me up some soup that would be great."

"I can do that." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth leaned over and gave Jack a kiss. She then went to the kitchen and started getting some food for them. She was worried that Jack still didn't want to eat, but she knew that he was drinking plenty of water and tea, so she was just going to let it go at the moment.

After several minutes of allowing Wynn to think, Jacobs leaned forward and looked at him.

"Tell me what you are thinking?" Jacobs asked.

"I think that this whole case is a bottomless pit of trouble." Wynn said. "Just when I think we have one thing wrapped up, we find another line of trouble."

"I am not surprised." Jacobs said. "You said that twenty-two men were arrested at Christmas."

"Yes." Wynn said. "And probably another thirty or thirty five since."

"Yes, it is a large case." Jacobs said. "But, it is slowly unraveling. A case this large is going to take time to sort through just because of the sheer number of people involved and the number of years that we believe that criminal activity was taking place. Honestly I would be surprised if this case was wrapped up in a year or even two. We are all frustrated with the Pacific Northwest case, because no one could imagine the level of corruption that had been allowed to happen. I will admit that there are several Mountie procedures that should be reviewed, given what Pacific Northwest has done. I am still floored that a small town Mountie who felt that something was off, was the one that brought this whole company to its knees.

Can you imagine if Elizabeth had never come out here or if you had denied your brother-in-law's request to send a Mountie. Or even if you would have sent a different Mountie. I don't want to think about everything that had to happen just so for Jack to be here to investigate a mine disaster. So we won't go there. I have no doubt that there will be other frustrations during this case. You have had other tough cases, so I don't buy that it is the case. Something else is bothering you."

"The auditors are my son-in-law and his brother." Wynn said. "I am worried about Sophie."

"Is she alone?" Jacobs asked.

"No." Wynn said. "Besides her live-in help, David's wife, Melissa, is staying with her. The Mounties are also watching the house at night."

"What does your son-in-law say?" Jacobs asked.

"Andrew said it was Sophie's idea." Wynn said.

"From what Dee and you have told me about her." Jacobs said. "It probably was. Wasn't Andrew going to be sending papers for Abigail to keep the kids and didn't you say that he had paperwork for Jack and Elizabeth."

"You are right." Wynn said. "Maybe it is just everything. I feel like we have been spinning our wheels here and it is frustrating. I am having a hard time believing what Inspector Williams said about Andy Russell."

"Why?" Jacobs said. "From what I know it adds up. I was still in Hamilton when it happened. Actually, I think I was in Burlington. But the point being, it was hard on all of the Mounties when we learned that Inspector Russell was killed and then for his wife to be involved."

"I know." Wynn said. "That was a hard funeral to sit through. I was there, in the front row with the senior Andrew Russell and his wife."

"That was you sitting next to them." Jacobs said. "I was part of the gun salute. It wasn't my first Mountie funeral, but it was by far the largest. Inspector Russell was great to work with. I worked on a couple of cases with him. I didn't know him outside of work, but from what I heard, he lived for his little girls."

"He did." Wynn said. "Those two girls meant everything to him."

"What is going to happen to the girls now?" Jacobs asked.

"They are currently with Andrew Russell and his wife." Wynn said. "But they are going to be coming to live with Jack and Beth later this year. They haven't talked to other people about it, but I know because one, they confirmed it with me and two, I had several conversations with Andrew Russell about it before he made the offer. That was why Charlotte was upset, Jack and Beth taking the girls. I don't know what her problem with it is, but Jack said that was why she was upset. Both Jack and Beth feel that the girls were meant to be with them. They didn't explain more and I didn't ask a lot more questions. Beth had that look in her eye that it didn't matter what anyone said, her mind was made up and there would be no talking her out of it. I have seen that look before. The last time was when she was determined to attend teacher college. I didn't see it but I am sure that she had it when she told her father that she was coming out here despite his feelings and there was nothing that he could do to stop her."

"Good for them." Jacobs said. "From everything that I have seen, they will be great parents and those girls will be lucky to have Jack and Elizabeth raising them. I am assuming that Inspector Russell's biological father was related to Jack in some way based on what you have said."

"Yes." Wynn said. "Callen Thornton was Thomas Thornton's brother. Jack didn't know anything about him until he came to Hamilton in January. Andrew Russell has asked Jack to take the girls, not only because they are blood related to them, but he knows that Jack would raise them the way that Andy would have wanted. Andy didn't want his girls to be immersed into the high society life like his sisters. He wanted to raise them in the honorable tradition of the Mounties."

"Jack will see to that." Jacobs said. "From what I have seen, heard and read he lives and breathes the Mountie motto. Coupled with this compassion for the children who have lost a parent, it makes him the perfect person to raise those girls."

"I agree." Wynn said. "I know that Jack and Beth have talked about getting a nanny and some security, especially since they are building a little further away from town."

"And they are worried about how other people will react." Jacobs said.

"Yes." Wynn said. "They don't want to be seen as putting on airs, but they also understand that there are certain things that they will need, especially with them expecting as well as Beth wanting to continue to work."

"Then they explain to their friends and let the rest just be." Jacobs said.

"That is what Elizabeth and I told them." Wynn said.

"I will do what I can to squash rumors." Jacobs said. "Especially moving forward. You know that the Russell name is going to draw attention, especially with the story already out there of his rescuing the girls."

"I know." Wynn said. "Which is why Andrew Russell has given Jack and Beth permission to adopt the girls so they will be Thornton. Jack and Beth will just add Thornton. So the girls will legally be Russell-Thornton. Informally, they will just be Thornton. When they are old enough, it will be explained to them."

"That makes sense." Jacobs said. "I also understand the need for security and a nanny. Elizabeth is expecting and it will be a lot taking on the girls."

"Yes." Wynn said.

"Okay." Jacobs said. "So you are worried about your niece and Jack. You are frustrated with the case, but we are working on it and we will get to the bottom of it. I get that you are also worried about your daughter, but you need to let it go. I get that you want to protect her from everything given what has happened, but from what I have gathered, she is very independent. Which is no surprise getting to know you and your wife."

Wynn let out a harsh breath.

"So tell me what I missed with McGinty." Jacobs said.

Aunt Elizabeth, Charlotte and Patty had a good afternoon with the kids. They had been able to get a lot done. Aunt Elizabeth was convinced that if the children from the settlements worked at, they would have no problem getting caught up. It was just going to take work and time. They have the basics in spoken language, it was the written word where they were the furthest behind.

After they finished at the schoolhouse, Charlotte said that she would see them later and took off toward the jail. Elizabeth Rose and Patty stood there for a moment watching Charlotte. Elizabeth shook her head. Even though Charlotte was helping with the children. Elizabeth had a feeling that as soon as the science fair happened, Charlotte was going to head back to the ranch. Elizabeth just hoped that they had a chance to sit and talk about everything before that happened. She knew that Charlotte wasn't dealing with her feelings and that was why she was short with Jack and others. She held her tongue around the children, but everyone who knew Charlotte could see that there was a storm brewing just under the surface.

After double checking that they had picked up everything and left the papers for Elizabeth on her desk, Aunt Elizabeth and Patty headed to the cafe. They wanted some tea and then they planned on helping Abigail. It had been getting busier in the evenings at the cafe. Elizabeth and Patty walked the long way into town. They looked around and Patty noticed many empty buildings around town.

"This would be a nice town to settle down in." Patty said.

Elizabeth stopped and looked at Patty.

"What happened to my tumbleweed of a friend?" Elizabeth asked.

"She is still under there." Patty said. "I don't plan on leaving my job just yet. I just know that I can't do this forever. I want a place to call home. I have no idea what I would do, but being here with you has shown me that I have certainly missed out on some things. I love that I have been able to see most of this large country and much of Europe, but it is getting old. If I could find a man that was understanding of my situation and still willing to marry me, I would consider it. I have also realized that there are children out there that need loving parents. Just because I can't have children, doesn't mean that I can't be a mom."

"Understood." Elizabeth said. "I will give you a heads up. Jack and Beth will be looking to hire a few security members later this year. They are going to have full-time security and at least a full-time nanny."

"Do you think that they would be willing …?" Patty started to ask.

"If you are serious about sticking around for a while." Elizabeth interrupted. "I will talk to Jack and Beth once they are more clear about what they are going to be needing."

"I take it that there is more to it than the current situation." Patty said.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I can't say much more, especially since Jack and Beth haven't said anything officially to their close friends here."

"Understood." Patty said. "And yes, I was serious."

"Noted." Elizabeth said.

They finally made their way to the cafe. They went into the back and saw that Abigail was seated there.

"You two look like you could use a break." Abigail commented.

"Yes." Patty said. "It was hard to settle the children back down after the trip to town to see the Mounties. But eventually we were able to get a lot done, but they all have lots of homework."

"I have heard a few parents grumbling this afternoon about that." Abigail said.

Abigail got up and got them more tea and some scone while Patty let out a harsh breath. Aunt Elizabeth wasn't going to say anything else, but she knew Patty would have no trouble speaking.

"Point them in my direction." Patty said. "I will tell them exactly what their children are doing and how many times we have to redirect their attention back to their work. I have no idea how Elizabeth handles thirty plus students alone in the mornings."

"So do you think that we are going to need a bigger space for the children?" Abigail asked. "Especially with the mine reopening and the railroad."

"Actually." Elizabeth Rose said. "I think a second classroom and a teacher might be what is needed. I would suggest that you have that conversation with Beth, but that is what I would suggest."

"I would suggest that." Patty said. "Personally, I would divide them into the younger kids and then an older group. Where that cut off would be, will depend on the number of children and their ages."

"I will definitely talk to Elizabeth about that." Abigail said. "But if we are going to need another building, we are going to have to think of something to raise the funds. Jack donated a majority of the funds for the current building and then he led the townspeople in building it."

"It might be inconvenient for a while, but there are a number of empty buildings in town." Patty said. "One could easily be set up as a classroom for a year, while funds are raised."

"True." Abigail said. "I will consider that."