Elizabeth smiled when Jack came through the door to the dress shop. "Constable. Are you in need of a new dress today?"
He chuckled. "I'll pass, but I might need to bring Allie in here soon. I noticed the sleeves on a lot of her winter dresses are looking short."
"Rosemary and I would be happy to make her a few things." She stepped out from behind the counter, closing the distance between them. "I'm sure you didn't come in here to talk about dresses, though."
"You're right." He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was wondering if I could escort you and the children home."
"Don't you still have some work to do?"
He shook his head. "Not really. It's been a quiet day. And Allie is staying with Emily tonight, so I'm in no real hurry to get home."
"Let me make sure Rosemary doesn't need my help closing up."
"I'm fine here." She appeared from the back room, having overheard the end of the conversation. "Lee is going to be by shortly to pick me up, anyway."
"Well, then, I'll just get the children."
It only took a few minutes for the children to gather their things, and they were on their way. Jack carried Emma on his hip while William skipped along ahead of them. Elizabeth sighed contentedly.
It had been nearly a month since she and Jack reconciled, and they had fallen into a comfortable pattern. They spent at least a little bit of time together every day, walking to or from town, sharing meals together. She was really beginning to imagine a future with him, a day when they wouldn't have to say goodbye to each other at the end of the evening. Even Emma was warming up to Jack, hugging him in greeting and snuggling into his shoulder when he carried her around.
A chilly breeze blew, and Elizabeth shivered and moved closer to Jack.
"Winter is definitely on its way," he observed.
"Mhmm." She nodded. "I wonder if we'll get snow soon."
"Maybe." He glanced up at the sky, noticing clouds beginning to roll in. "Once it's a bit colder."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they continued on toward the row houses, just enjoying each other's company. Emma started to doze off on Jack's shoulder, and William slowed his steps, falling into line with them.
"Mama?" William slipped his hand into hers. "Is Mr. Mountie staying for dinner?" He glanced between his mother and Jack, a hopeful look on his face.
"I don't know." Elizabeth met his eyes. "Does Mr. Mountie want to stay for dinner?"
He chuckled. "I would love to have dinner with you."
...
"Mama! We made a big castle!" Emma exclaimed, pointing at the block creation in front of her.
"I see that! It's a very nice castle, Emma." Elizabeth lowered herself to the floor near her children.
"The princess lives in the castle," she explained. "And the prince saves her."
"No," William countered. "The Mountie saves her."
Jack chuckled. "Maybe the Mountie is secretly a prince."
"Oh!" Emma gasped. "A Mountie Prince!"
"Five more minutes with your Mountie Prince, and then it's time for bed."
"Aw, man." William whined. "But Mr. Mountie is here."
"Well, Mr. Mountie is going to head home here pretty soon," Jack told him. "But maybe if it's okay with your mom, I can read you a bedtime story."
"Yeah!" He cheered. "I'll pick one out!" He quickly cleaned up his toys and ran up the stairs.
"Don't forget your pajamas, Willie!" Elizabeth called up after him.
"Do you mind if I help him?" Jack asked.
"Go ahead. Come here, Emma. Let's get you ready for bed, too."
Within ten minutes, the children were dressed in their pajamas and tucked up under the covers. Jack sat in a too small chair nearby, quietly reading from the book William had chosen. Elizabeth excused herself, suddenly overcome by the sight.
She stepped across the hall to her own bedroom, closing the door behind her before sinking onto the edge of the bed. She took a shaky breath, one thought coming to the forefront of her mind: she was in love with Jack Thornton.
She'd never been in love before, and the feeling was overwhelming. To have someone in her life who cared for her, who loved her and her children, who wouldn't dream of hurting her; it was a lot to take in.
Tears filled her eyes at the thought that this could be her life. She could spend her days with Jack, raising her children and Allie together. She could have a partner by her side, someone with whom she could share her joys and sorrows, someone to sit with on quiet evenings.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. "Elizabeth?"
She quickly wiped her eyes and crossed the room, opening the door just a crack. "Jack, I'm sorry about that. I don't know what came over me."
"I didn't upset you, did I?" he asked, concerned at the obvious signs that she had been crying.
"No, no," she assured him, stepping out of the room to join him in the hallway. "I just…I'm very grateful for you, Jack."
He gave her a smile. "I'm grateful for you, too." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "The children are asleep now, so I should be getting home."
"You could stay a bit longer, if you'd like. I can make us some tea."
"You're sure?"
She nodded. "It'll give us a chance to talk without the children interrupting."
"Okay, but not for too long. We don't need anyone talking tomorrow," he teased.
A few minutes later, she handed him a fresh cup of tea, taking a seat on the sofa beside him.
"Thank you again for inviting me to stay for dinner. You saved me from a sad dinner alone."
She nudged him with her elbow. "Just so you know, you're welcome to have dinner with us any time. Allie, too."
He nudged her back. "Thank you."
"So," she took a sip of her tea.
"So," he replied, a smile on his lips. "Are you still planning on visiting your family for Christmas?"
"That's the plan. I know my parents are eager to see the children again." She sighed. "Part of me wishes I didn't promise to visit at Christmas, though."
"Why is that?"
She shrugged. "I just wish we could be spending the holiday here. This is the first place that's felt like home in a really long time, and it feels like we should be spending Christmas at home."
"Well, you don't have to spend the whole holiday season in Hamilton. Maybe you could visit before or after the actual holiday."
"Maybe."
He took her hand. "And whatever bit of the Christmas season you end up spending here, I have some plans for us."
"Oh, you do? Like what?"
He gave her a wink. "It's a surprise."
...
A few weeks later, Jack blinked in the darkness of his bedroom. The light of dawn was just beginning to peek over the horizon, not yet reaching his window. He heard a thumping downstairs, and a faint voice calling his name.
He reached for his slippers and robe, pulling them on as he made his way downstairs.
"Jack!" the voice called.
As he got closer to the door, he recognized the voice as Lee's.
"Jack!" Lee exclaimed when the door opened. He was breathing hard, as though he had run all the way from his house.
"What's going on?"
"I went to go get Faith, and I guess she never returned last night after going out to check on the Hermanns. The snow's usually worse over there."
Jack was already switching out his slippers for his boots. "Why were you going to get Faith to begin with? Is Rosemary okay?"
"She's fine," Lee explained as Jack reached for his coat. "It's Elizabeth's children. I'm no doctor, but it sounds like they both caught that flu that's going around."
His heart dropped. So far, there were only a few cases in town, but he knew it could be serious in children as young as William and Emma. "Did anyone call for a doctor?"
"Yes," Lee nodded. "But this flu is bad everywhere. Between that and the weather, they can't get anyone to town for a few days at the earliest. We really need to find Faith."
"Gather as many men as you can and meet me in town. We'll organize a search party."
"Will do."
...
Elizabeth sat on the bed between her children. William was curled up, fast asleep, and Emma's head rested in her lap. She stroked her fingers through her soft, dark hair, feeling the heat radiating off of her little body.
Lee had stopped by to let her know that he and Jack were going to gather some men to form a search party in the hopes of finding Faith. Elizabeth prayed they were able to find her soon.
She was worried. Worried for her children, of course. She had never seen either of them so sick. They were both burning with fever and so weak. Neither had been able to keep anything down, except a few swallows of water. Without medical care, she worried they would deteriorate quickly.
She also worried for Faith, and for the men who had gone out to search for her. The snow had begun falling in earnest the previous evening, and she knew it could be disorienting, especially in the mountains and wooded areas on the outskirts of town where they would be searching.
"Mama?" Emma whined, her voice rough. "It hurts."
"I know, baby. Do you want to try some water again? It might make your throat feel better."
She nodded. "Okay, mama."
Elizabeth offered her a glass, helping her lift her head to take a few sips. "I'll be right back, Em. You just rest."
Tears filled her eyes as she made her way down the stairs and outside. Snow was still swirling down, but it wasn't near as heavy as it had been overnight. She took a few gulps of cold air, trying to clear her head.
"Elizabeth?" Rosemary's voice sounded to her right. She was standing on her own porch, arms wrapped around herself in an attempt to keep warm. "How are they doing?"
She shook her head and sniffled. "No better, no worse."
"Do you need me to come over and help?"
"I don't want Allie to get sick."
Rosemary had promised to watch Allie until Jack returned, and Elizabeth knew she couldn't leave the young girl alone.
"She can stay downstairs," Rosemary explained. "I don't think you should be alone right now, and I don't really want to be alone, either. I just keep thinking about Lee being out there, and Jack and the other men, too. I need the distraction."
"Well," Elizabeth sighed. "Okay. You can come over. But Allie stays far away from William and Emma. And so do you, for that matter. You need to take care of yourself and that baby."
She touched her stomach, the hint of a smile on her lips. "We'll be over in a few minutes. You'd better get back inside before you freeze."
...
"She could've gotten turned around. There's no telling where she is now," Lee said dejectedly.
He and Jack had just come from the Hermann homestead, where they were informed Faith had left early that morning, before the sun was up. Unfortunately, the snow had continued to fall after her departure, covering up any tracks she may have created.
"There's a hunting cabin around here somewhere. Maybe she came across that and took shelter until the storm passes."
Lee shrugged. "I guess there's no harm in checking."
"We need to find her, Lee. If anything happens to William and Emma…" He shook his head, unable to fathom the thought. "We just really need to find her."
"Lead the way."
Jack urged his horse forward, grateful that the snow had begun to slow down. The nature of his job meant he was very familiar with the areas on the outskirts of town, but that would have meant nothing in snow-heavy conditions. It didn't take long before they approached a small, run-down cabin. He straightened up at the smell of smoke, hope springing into his heart.
"Someone's there," Lee observed.
"I'll go first." He dismounted, putting a hand on his gun. He slowly trudged through the snow and up to the window. Peering in, he caught sight of a young woman kneeling in front of the fire.
He waved Lee over before moving to the door and knocking softly.
"Faith? It's Jack."
There was a rustling on the other side of the door before it opened. "Jack, thank goodness. Come inside." She opened the door wider, letting the two men in.
"Are you okay? You aren't hurt or anything?"
"I'm fine," she assured him. "I just wasn't expecting the snow to be so bad. I was afraid I'd get turned around, so when I saw this cabin, I decided to wait out the storm."
"Well, I hope you've had plenty of time to warm up, because you're needed back in town. The Spencer children are really sick."
"Just let me gather my things."
...
"What if they don't find her?" Elizabeth wondered aloud as she placed another cool cloth on her son's forehead. "What if they get lost out there?"
"You can't think like that, Elizabeth." Rosemary stood in the doorway, trying not to get too close to the children. "Jack is good at his job, and he'll do anything for you and your children. I'm sure they'll be here soon."
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the front door.
"It's my dad!" Allie called out. "Can I let him in?"
"Go ahead," Rosemary told her, coming down the stairs to join her.
Jack entered the house, followed closely by Lee and Faith.
"Dad!" Allie jumped into his arms.
"Hi, Allie-girl." He hugged her tightly.
"I'm glad you're back."
"Me too." He kissed her cheek. "I'm going to go with Nurse Faith to check on William and Emma, but I'll be back down soon."
"Okay."
A few minutes later, he found himself standing beside Elizabeth while Faith examined Emma. He slipped his arm around her, trying to provide her with a bit of comfort and support.
"It's definitely the flu," Faith reported as she stood up straight. "Our main priority will be to make sure they stay hydrated, so keep encouraging them to drink water when they're awake, and maybe some broth, too."
Elizabeth nodded. "I can do that."
"I'm sorry that there isn't much else I can do."
"They'll be okay, won't they?" Her voice cracked as she asked the question.
Faith put a hand on her arm. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure they recover, Elizabeth."
"Thank you."
"I'll go over to the infirmary and see if I have anything there that can help these two."
"Do you need any help getting out there?" Jack asked.
"I think I'll be okay, now that it's stopped snowing," she assured him.
"Okay, but if you're not back in an hour, I'll come looking again."
She nodded in agreement. Elizabeth and Jack followed her downstairs, where Lee and Rosemary were waiting with Allie.
"Well?"
"Faith is going to stop by the infirmary to get a few things."
"For now, it's really just a lot of waiting and keeping them comfortable," she explained.
"Thank you again, Faith," Elizabeth said quietly.
"I'll be back soon." Turning toward Rosemary, she added, "make sure you're taking care of yourself. We really don't want you catching this."
She gave a nod. "Lee and I are probably going to head home soon."
"Good."
"What was that all about?" Jack asked after Faith left.
A flush rose in Rosemary's cheeks. "Well, we haven't made the announcement to everybody yet." She glanced over at Lee, who grinned and put his arm around her waist. "We're having a baby in the spring."
"Congratulations, you two."
"Thank you." A smile stretched across her face, and she drew her hands to her stomach. "I'm almost halfway through the pregnancy now. We were going to tell people sooner, but we've been trying for so long with no luck, we just wanted to make sure it was for real this time."
"Well, I'm very happy for you, Rosemary. You two are going to be wonderful parents." Jack clapped Lee on the back.
"Thank you, Jack. We're very excited. But," he glanced over at his wife, "we probably should get home now. Elizabeth, let us know if you need anything."
"I will." She thanked her friends once more before walking them to the door, watching them make their way to their own home.
She sighed as she turned to go back inside.
Jack immediately pulled her into his arms. "How are you?"
"I just want them to get better."
"I know." He ran his fingers through her hair as she settled against his chest. "Are you hungry? Allie and I can make you something to eat while you sit with them."
"You probably want to get Allie home."
"I want to stay here," the little girl spoke up from the sofa, where she had been reclining as she read a book. "Even if I can't be with William and Emma, I want them to know I'm here."
"That settles it." Jack squeezed Elizabeth's hand. "I can make a pretty good chicken soup. Why don't I get some warming? Then it'll be finished whenever William and Emma are ready to eat."
"Thank you, Jack."
"Oh, and before you go up there, how long have you known about Rosemary?"
"A while." She gave him a guilty smile. "She wasn't very good at hiding her morning sickness in the early months."
"I suppose I can forgive you for keeping that secret from me."
She gave him a little shove. "It wasn't my news to tell, Constable."
"I know." He kissed her forehead. "Now, go check on those babies of yours."
...
Elizabeth sat between her children, smiling as she closed the book she had just finished reading to them.
"Another one, mama. Please?"
She ran her fingers through William's hair, still damp from his bath. "No more, sweet boy. It's time for you two to go to bed."
"But we've been sleeping all week!" he pointed out.
They had, in fact, spent the majority of the week in bed. It was touch and go for a few days, as both children had fought the high fevers, cough, and other symptoms that went along with the flu they had caught. But now, they were on the mend, and Elizabeth was very grateful for that. They had even been able to journey downstairs for a little while earlier that day.
"I know, but Nurse Faith says you still need rest while you build your strength back up. I know you don't feel as sick anymore, but you're still getting better."
He sighed. "Okay, mama."
"Maybe tomorrow, we can bundle up and go play in the snow for a little bit. Okay?"
Both children grinned and nodded, immediately snuggling down into their blankets.
"I love you both very much." She kissed each of them on the forehead, making sure they were comfortable before picking up the candle and quietly leaving the room.
She made her way downstairs, intending to get some cleaning done before retiring for the night, but her attention caught on the papers sitting on the small table by the sofa.
Her lips turned up into a smile as she picked up the "Get Well Soon" cards that Allie had made for William and Emma. The little girl had been worried about her friends, and she had brought the cards by the day before.
Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm as she thought about everything Jack had done for them, too. He had stopped by every day since the children had fallen sick, making sure they had food, and wood for the fire, and anything else they might need.
She still hadn't admitted that she was in love with him, but she had a feeling it wouldn't be long before she couldn't keep it to herself anymore.