Chapter 209 – Frank Talks to the Family
After Jacobs, Faith and Patty left. Elizabeth Rose started water to do the laundry that was still sitting by the back door. Dee cleaned up the bedroom and made sure that the indoor clothes lines were strung. Wynn, David and Andrew sat down in the front room and started going over paperwork. When Dee was done, he joined them. David left to go get his briefcase and also agreed to grab a few things for the others.
"What do you want me to do?" Charlotte asked.
"I don't know." Elizabeth Rose said. "Do you want to be here? If not, do what you want."
It wasn't that Elizabeth Rose was trying to be rude, but she wasn't in the mood to deal with Charlotte and one of her moods. They were all emotionally exhausted at that point. They wanted to be close, but also keep busy.
"I will head back and help Patty and Abigail." Charlotte said. "Can someone keep us updated?"
"I will send a note to you with one of the guards when they change." Wynn said.
"I guess that will have to do." Charlotte said.
"You are free to come out here later and check yourself." Wynn said. "We all understand that there isn't much we can do right now, except wait. Beth is the best person to be with Jack right now. We respect their space and are just trying to keep busy."
Charlotte nodded and then quietly left. David was back in short order with his briefcase and the other items he grabbed. To everyone's surprise. David had brought Pastor Frank back with him as well.
After carrying Jack upstairs, Jacobs laid him on the bed, propped him up with a pillow from behind. He finished removing Jack's jeans and checked his breathing. Elizabeth had immediately laid down next to Jack. She was so focused on Jack that she barely realized that Jacobs was speaking to her. After making sure she was alright and letting her know when he would be back, he left.
Elizabeth took a quick look around her room. She wanted to shout and cry, but she couldn't. She turned to face Jack. She knew that she had to be careful. Jacobs and Faith didn't need to tell her Jack was going to be sore for days, she already knew that. She was just so worried about Jack, but she didn't think that she could talk to anyone.
As she lay there facing Jack she just wanted him to wake up. However she knew that him being out for a bit was the best thing. He was getting the rest he needed and he didn't feel the pain he was in. She took his limp clammy hand and laid it on her baby bump. She then took her hand and ran her fingers through Jack's hair.
"I love you so much." Elizabeth said to the unconscious Jack. "As much as I want you to wake up, you rest. We will be right here waiting for you."
Elizabeth continued to stroke Jack's hair and hum softly to him. She didn't care how long it took, she was going to be right there when he woke up. Tears slipped from Elizabeth's eyes as she laid there watching Jack's breathing.
After about fifteen minutes, Elizabeth got up and changed into a nightgown as it was more comfortable. She made sure that Jack was still propped up and he wasn't in danger of rolling back on his hip. Elizabeth gently covered him with the bed sheet. She then crawled back into bed, laid facing Jack and took his hand and placed it on her baby bump. When she did that, she realized that her bump was even bigger than she had noticed the day before. Elizabeth put her hand next to Jack's on her bump.
"Hey little one." Elizabeth said aloud. "Even though Daddy is sick and can't talk to you right now, he will feel if you move. We both love you so much."
Elizabeth reached down and pulled the bed sheet up over her as well. What she really wanted to do was turn around and snuggle back into Jack's chest, but she didn't want to hurt him, so she chose to stay facing him. She took her hand from her baby bump and put it on Jack's cheek, so that he would know that she was there.
Wynn looked at Pastor Frank. Other than at the wedding and Easter services, it was one of the few times that he had seen him wear his black clerics with the collar. It was just so different to see him dressed like that. Normally Frank didn't bother with the clerics as he didn't want them to further set him apart from people. Wynn had long seen that Frank had truly changed from his past and was glad to let him know that the Mounties had no problem with him. Wynn went as far as to speak to Frank when they had been in town for the Garrison gang, telling him that he completely trusted him with his life and that he was grateful that he was willing to put his own life on the line for the safety of the town.
"Pastor Frank." Wynn said. "Not that you aren't welcome here, I am just curious why."
"I was down visiting Cat Montgomery." Frank said. "Her son Gabe had come to me and let him know that his mother was struggling as this weekend would have been twentieth anniversary. So I had been there talking to her when we heard Jack. I assured the children that Mountie Jack was fine, but just having to endure a painful treatment. I told them that Nurse Carter and the Mounties were doing everything that could to help Mountie Jack.
I then had Gabe go door to door and make sure that everyone else knew that everything was fine and even if they heard more screaming later, that it was fine. I knew that they didn't need details of what exactly was happening, but more the assurance that things would be fine. When Gabe got back, he said that he had spoken to everyone, including the men that were working on the new house. He said that people understood and most offered to pray for what was going on here."
"Thank you for doing that." Wynn said. "We were so focused on Jack that I didn't think about others hearing him."
"Do you mind me asking what is going on?" Frank asked. "I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but I thought that you all might need to, so that is why I stopped by."
Wynn looked around.
"Frank." Wynn said. "I am sorry, where are my manners? Let me formally introduce you to my son-in-law, Andrew Kennedy and his brother David."
The men all shook hands.
"Good to meet you." Frank said. "I had seen you around last night, but didn't know your names. I am glad that you are here to help. I hope that you join us for services tomorrow."
"I am looking forward to it." Andrew said. "I have heard a little about you from Beth in her letters. She included a wonderful description of you from the wedding."
"Thank you." Frank said.
"To answer your question." Wynn said. "Nurse Carter and Sergeant Jacobs had to clean out an infected spot on Jack's hip. We all knew that it was going to be painful. Despite them giving him painkillers, there is not much that can dull that kind of pain."
"I wondered if it wasn't something like that." Frank said. "Once a man hears those screams, they tend to stick in his head. It wasn't the first time I heard those screams nor the first time that I have seen/heard that procedure. How is Elizabeth doing?"
"She has been quiet." Wynn said. "She was in there, holding Jack."
Frank looked at Wynn wide-eyed.
"Both had insisted that she was there." Wynn said. "Jacobs moved Jack upstairs after he passed out. Elizabeth is up there with him."
"Then he is in the best hands possible." Frank said. "I have never seen a couple like them. From the first time that I saw them when Elizabeth came back from Hamilton back in October, they have been amazing to watch. I had known Jack for a few days before Elizabeth arrived back. But when she returned, even though they weren't in the best spot, you could see Jack's entire outlook change. Even though they were struggling with things in those days, they always seemed to find the other.
If one or the other was anywhere in sight, they found each other. There was more than once that I had been talking to Jack and he would suddenly stop and just watch Elizabeth. I saw the same thing happen with her. I didn't matter if they were all the way across town, if they could see each other, they connected. If they were in the same space, they just naturally drifted to each other. They were always holding hands and stealing kisses between buildings."
"Sounds sweet." David said.
"From what I have learned." Frank said. "Everyone knew within a week of their arrival that they were meant to be together. The fact that it took until September for them to officially start courting was unreal. Then they were engaged in secret that second week of November and planned their Christmas wedding in secret. I mean I understand why they did it the way that they did, but it was cute to watch them.
The only ones that knew that they were engaged here in town were Abigail and I. We spent many evenings talking and watching them together. I just feel so privileged that they trusted the two of us enough to talk to us and include us in their plans. At first, I was afraid that they would sneak off to Union City and get married in secret."
"Yeah." Elizabeth Rose said, coming over. "There was a time right after she sent the wire and then the letter that they wouldn't make it to a Christmas wedding. However, I am glad that they waited to celebrate with people. Beth has never liked being the center of attention. I know, I know it's weird for a teacher to say. She doesn't see teaching that, so I think that is part of.
Anyway, my point is that Beth isn't comfortable in large groups, especially when they are watching her. I know that she has spoken up several times at town meetings and that goes to show how comfortable she is here. I am afraid that some of the decisions that she has made is going to put distance between her and the townspeople. It is going to be especially hard after we leave this time."
"I will do everything I can to help." Frank said. "Jack and Elizabeth have been there supporting me from the start."
Frank noticed the drawings on the coffee table.
"What are these?" Frank asked, picking up one of the drawings.
"Drawings Jack did." Wynn said. "He had shown them to us earlier."
"What a beautiful drawing of Elizabeth." Frank said. "Who is the little girl touching her belly?"
Wynn and Dee looked at each other for a moment.
"How did you know it was Beth?" Dee asked.
"It is obvious." Frank said. "Besides the hair color and light colored skirt, it is the loving way the two people are interacting. Only a man in love could draw his wife with such tender loving care that it radiates off the page."
"Look at the date on the bottom." Dee said.
"December 1906." Frank read.
He looked up at Dee and then over at Wynn.
"Wait, I am confused." Frank said. "Jack and Elizabeth said they had never met before they came to Coal Valley and neither had been married before. So who is the woman and again who is the little girl. Does Jack have other children we don't know about? Was I wrong …."
"Slow down." Wynn said. "Jack has never been married and doesn't have other children. We were just as confused. I was hoping Jack and Beth would explain things to you, but I will try."
"Jack drew these pictures from an image in a dream." Dee said. "He did several of them and recently shared them with us. Let me backup."
Dee took a deep breath and slowly blew it out.
"Before Jack came to Coal Valley." Dee said. "He had no intention of getting married, despite the vivid dreams. He told me he had been so set against marriage for several reasons. They included that it was drilled into us at the academy that Mounties and marriage don't mix. Another reason that Jack had been so set against marriage was that while at the academy, his long-time girlfriend/fiance walked out on him telling him that he had to choose – his calling as a Mountie or her. Jack obviously chose the Mounties. Because of that experience, he hid behind the line we were taught – 'if the Mounties wanted you to have a wife they would have issued you one.'
Now Jack and I, along with McGinty all knew that Mounties could successfully have a career and family. Otherwise none of us would be around. We also knew that it wasn't the easiest life to ask of a woman. Because of his hurt and seeing his mother struggle after his father's death, Jack had closed his heart to love and marriage. Yet for years, he has been plagued with these vivid dreams of a wife and family. He told me he kept them so he had something to dream about even though he never thought he would get married.
One time Jack told me that he had hid behind the Mounties' don't marry line for so long because he couldn't see himself with anyone other than the woman who hunted his dreams. Then low and behold, about a year ago. Actually it will be exactly a year in about ten days. Anyway, almost a year ago on an assignment he didn't want to be on in the middle of nowhere, Jack actually came face to face with the woman from his dreams. He has admitted that that afternoon sent him reeling and feeling very overwhelmed."
"Wait." Frank said. "Didn't Jack and Elizabeth arrive here in Coal Valley almost a year ago. Abigail was telling me that Jack had asked her to do a special supper for their one year anniversary of meeting."
"Exactly." Wynn said.
Frank sat back and looked at the other drawings that Dee had laid out. Things started to click and make sense.
"So when Jack came here." Frank said. "Which was a change in his assignment, he literally came face to face with the woman of his dreams. But he was hiding from past hurts and truly believing he would never have the opportunity to have those dreams."
"Exactly." Dee said.
"No wonder everyone said there were sparks between the two from the start." Frank said. "Then hearing their different backgrounds, I can see why they struggled to get together. Some of the other things that they have shared about how they have felt they have known each other so much longer and that their love is a bond that they can't put into words."
"When I sent Jack here." Wynn said. "I had chosen him, not only because he was one of the best young Mounties there was, but also because I thought he and Beth were perfect for each other. I didn't know about the dreams and drawings, but I knew what my niece considered important in a husband. I never intended for them to be hurt by my actions and they both now see I had the best of intentions.
I knew that my niece was stubborn and was never going to marry one of the rich men that her father pushed on her. I thought sending a young Mountie who checked off many of the boxes on her list of a perfect husband would show her that she didn't need a rich husband and that she truly could marry for love like her aunt did. So I was overjoyed when they figured out they belonged together."
"That still doesn't explain when the other two little girls are." Frank said.
"You remember the story of Jack rescuing two little girls on the train when he was coming back here in October?" Dee asked.
"Yes." Frank said. "I heard about it at the awards ceremony and later again at Christmas. Jack has never personally talked to me about it, I think he was embarrassed by the attention."
"I am sure." Wynn said. "I am sure that Jack and Beth wouldn't mind us sharing."
