Chapter 11

Elizabeth woke up but refused to open her eyes. She was comfortable and warm. This shocked her. She was never warm, but she was so comfortable she didn't care why. She was just happy to be warm. She knew she needed to open her eyes, but she just refused. There was no way she was losing this warmth.

"Ouch…what was that." She mentioned to herself. She only opened her eyes when she heard a moan. Slowly, she scanned the room without moving and noticed Jack sitting in the chair beside the bed. His eyes were closed. He was moving his right arm trying to work the soreness out. "His shoulder must be hurting." She whispered to herself.

"He's probably kicking you. That kid can be brutal to sleep with. He kicks me all the time."

She also noticed a blob of curly, brown hair. "Oh…that's why I'm warm." She stated slowly as she realized that JJ was wrapped in her arms. The last she remembered they were reading books on the couch waiting for Jack to come pick him up. She didn't remember how they got in this position. She moved her legs a little and noticed there was a blanket covering her legs and waist. "Where did that come from?" She whispered.

"I placed it on you two last night."

Elizabeth's eyes darted back to Jack. His eyes were still closed, and he was still trying to move his arm. "Thank you."

"I hope he wasn't too much for you."

"No, Jack. He's perfect." She smiled at the little brown headed boy. To be perfectly honest, she was already in love with this boy.

"That kid can be difficult. There has been a couple of times I would let him have my bed and I would go to the couch downstairs."

Elizabeth didn't speak until Jack opened his eyes and they made eye contact. Jack was slumped on the chair with is feet propped up on a small coffee table. "When did you get here?"

"I came in late last night. I'm sorry I was so late. I lost track to time."

"That's ok. Why didn't you take him home?"

"Well…I tried. You two were already laying on the couch just like you are now. I tried to pick him up. You just wrapped your arms around him tighter and he just settle in more. I didn't want to wake you two up. So, I just left you two be. I'm surprised he didn't wake you up during the night."

"I'm warm."

Jack laughed at her statement. He remembered all the times she would complain about being cold during the night. Jack took a moment to admire the scene before him. Just like last night, she was so beautiful. Her hair was gorgeously messy. Her smile was present. Her eyes were shining. Everything about her was simply beautiful in his eyes. Then he shook his head trying to force himself to quit admiring someone else's fiancé. Elizabeth noticed his facial expression changed. She saw him shake his head. She was always able to read him like her favorite book. Now she was struggling to read him. She didn't know where his head was. She realized the time apart not only caused a separation of distance, but a lost emotional connection as well. She can't read him like she was able to just a few weeks ago. This broke her heart.

"Are you ok?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah…I need to get him home."

"It's yes." A little voice stated.

"Alright young man." Jack shook his head. He corrected JJ one time and now JJ sought every opportunity to correct Jack. "It's time for us to go home."

JJ settled in even more into Elizabeth's grasp. He was just as comfortable as she was. He didn't want to move. He moved his head to see who was holding him.

"Ms. Elizabeth, did I stay with you last night?"

"Yes, we fell asleep on the couch reading while we waited for Jack."

"Would you have breakfast with me?" He asked innocently.

"JJ, Ms. Thatcher has a busy day and so do we. We need to go home." Elizabeth scrunched her nose at the thought of them leaving so soon and Jack using her proper name. She wanted to speak with him.

"Come on JJ. I'll make your favorite." Everyone turned their head to see a smiling Abagail at the bottom of the steps. Abagail was greatly enjoying the scene in front of her. Her and Charlette has been talking. They both felt that JJ would be a key piece in getting Jack and Elizabeth to communicate. They boy just had a way about him. By watching this little moment between the three of them, Abagail was thinking maybe Charlette's little plan may actually work.

JJ unwrapped himself from Elizabeth's grasp and ran toward Abagail. Elizabeth never took her eyes off Jack. His eyes followed JJ until he disappeared with Abagail in the kitchen.

"So, what's his favorite?" Elizabeth asked Jack.

He smiled. "Pancakes and bacon." He knew that was her favorite breakfast.

Her smile only grew knowing they had a lot in common. Over the couple of days, she has grown to know and love that little kid. Before she was able to say anything, Jack stood and followed JJ and Abagail into the kitchen. Elizabeth sighed. She was wanting to talk with Jack. She needed to talk with him. She stood and folded the blanket and then followed everyone to the kitchen.

…

"How are you feeling, Mr. Coulter?"

"I'm fine. I'm a little sore, hurting, but doing ok."

"That's great. Now, let me take the bandage off and check those wounds. We certainly do not want them to get infected."

"Lee! Lee!" Rosemary yelled as she stormed into the infirmary. "Lee! How are you?"

"I'm fine, Rosemary."

"I got here as fast as I could."

"I knew you were out of town. It's ok."

"Excuse me, who are you?" Rosemary asked.

"I'm nurse, Faith Carter."

"Why isn't there a doctor here?"

"I'm in charge of the infirmary. Lee is doing well. He will be sore for a while and will take some time to recover, but he will make a full recovery."

Rosemary huffed. She would have felt better if Lee was at the hospital being seen by a doctor.

"Rosemary…" Lee stated in a tired expression. "Nurse Carter is doing an excellent job. I want her to take care of me."

"Thank you, Mr. Coulter. Now, let me take a look at that foot."

…

Halfway through the breakfast meal, the conversation consisted only of JJ talking. Jack was intently listening. He was also avoiding Elizabeth's stare. He wouldn't even look at her. Elizabeth was listening to JJ, but she kept her eyes on Jack. She tried to pull him into a conversation, but he only nodded his head. He wouldn't speak to her. Abagail was entranced by JJ. She loved him. She also paid attention to Jack and Elizabeth. At the moment, all the ground Jack and Elizabeth made in the living room was lost. Jack just wouldn't engage with Elizabeth.

"Good morning." Charlette stated as she walked into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Ma."

"Good morning." JJ stated as he got up and gave her a hug. Her and JJ was getting along very nicely.

"Good morning, Charlette." Elizabeth stated. With Elizabeth using his mother's first name, that made Jack raise his eyebrow.

Charlette took a moment to explain to Jack about meeting Elizabeth in Hamilton at the post office and riding back to Hope Valley with her. Jack only nodded his head as his mother told him the whole story.

Elizabeth paid close attention to Jack and his facial features. She couldn't read him and it was aggravating her. She was trying to pick a good time to ask Jack to take a walk, but she just couldn't figure out what he was thinking. After several failed attempts to ask him, she finally just went for it. "Jack…would you take a walk with me?" Elizabeth asked hopeful when JJ took his plate to the sink.

Jack dropped his fork on the plate. He looked up at Elizabeth. She saw the shock in his face. Abagail and Charlette immediately quieted down. They were watching the couple as if they were watching their favorite drama play.

"I don't think so, Ms. Thatcher."

"Please Jack."

"No." He stated as he shook his head. "Everything has already been said…or not been said actually."

"Jack…please take a walk we me. I would like to talk with you." She asked softly just barely heard.

Jack stared at her. He couldn't believe she asked him that.

Charlette discreetly placed her hand on Jack's leg. "Jack…." She began.

"No, Ms. Thatcher. I need to get JJ home. I have an investigation to continue to work on this morning."

"Jack…please. We need to talk. You need to listen to me."

"No Elizabeth. I do not have to listen to you." He stated with a little bite in his tone. He laid his napkin on top of his plate.

If it wasn't for the tone in his voice, she would have been happy when he called her by her first name. "Jack…"

"Son, I think you need to take that walk." Charlette stated softly as she squeezed his leg. Her tone left no doubt what she meant. Jack knew that tone very well. He has heard that tone his entire life.

Jack lowered his head. He knew he didn't have a choice. His defeated posture broke Elizabeth's heart. She quickly wiped a single tear away before anyone noticed. Nevertheless, this was the beginning of rebuilding their relationship. It may not be how she wanted it to begin, but whatever it took for her to win him over, she was willing to pay it. She locked eyes with Charlette. She knew this was the first step that Charlette warned her about. Jack was avoiding the conversation. She knew the explosion was about to come.

She braced herself for their talk. She has played it out in her mind for days. She knew exactly how she wanted it to go. She also knew it most likely wouldn't go that way.

…

With his head down and his shoulders slumped, Jack slowly walked toward the door. He opened it and held it open for Elizabeth to walk through. She gasped when their shoulders almost touched. They haven't physically touched since before she left for Hamilton five weeks ago. When they stepped off the last step, they fell in step with each other. She also noticed that he stepped a little further away to create a distance between them. She sighed at the distance he created between them.

Jack stepped away from her because it wasn't proper for them to be walking together. She is engaged to another man. She was also the love of his life, and he lost her. When she stepped toward him to miss a hole in the road, he matched her step to keep the distance between them. He just couldn't understand why she is back and wanted to take a walk with him. Everything was already done. What good would come from talking now? If she wanted to make amends to make herself feel better, he was willing to do it just to end the conversation. In his opinion, she didn't have to do that unless it was just to ease her conscious.

"Jack…"

…

"What do you think?" Abagail asked Charlette as they watched the young couple walking down main street.

Charlette let out a long breath. "I'm not sure. He seems closed off to her. She may want this to work between them, but I'm not sure. I know without a doubt that he loves her, but I'm not sure he can reconcile what she has done."

"I agree with everything you just said. He's keeping his distance between them." Abagail stated as they watched Jack step away from Elizabeth.

"He is. That's because he thinks she is engaged. He doesn't think it's proper to take a walk with a woman promised to be married to someone else."

"You know Charlette, I have never seen two people that should be married more than those two. I saw it from the first time I saw them together when Jack came over for dinner. They challenge each other in the best way possible."

"I agree. I'm beginning to believe that she is finally realizing how difficult this is going to be with Jack."

"I think so too. She knew this was going to be difficult, but I think she finally realized how complicated it will be."

"Do you think she has it in her?"

Abagail didn't have to think about it for very long. She knew her little sister had an inner strength that she could do anything. She just didn't think Elizabeth understood how her actions affected him. Jack had always yielded to her. He came back and always apologized. "I do, but this isn't going to be easy. I'm beginning to wonder if Jack is willing."

…

"…I want to let you know that…"

"Ms. Thatcher…" Jack started cutting her off. He stopped walking. "You're absolved."

"I'm absolved?" Asked a confused Elizabeth.

"I get it ok…you want to feel better about yourself. You want to clear your conscious about us so you can move on or whatever. That's fine. I forgive you. You're free. You didn't have to come back here to make yourself feel better." Jack wasn't yelling, but his voice carried easily.

There were two people walking by that glanced their way. Usually this would have made Elizabeth uneasy having this discussion in the middle of main street, but she didn't care. Her main concern in her life was standing in front of her. It wasn't who was walking by and might overhear their conversation. She would have preferred it not be played out in front of everyone, but she was more concerned working things out with Jack.

"Now…with that stated, you can go back to your home with a clear conscious." Jack turned on his heals and began to walk back to the café that was almost two hundred yards away.

"Jack!" Elizabeth raised her voice to capture his attention and stop him from walking away. "It's not what you think."

"We've already had this conversation many times…he's just a friend. He's just a childhood friend. We're only friends. Thank you for the reminder." He huffed. "We've had this conversation at the café, in the kitchen and living room of Abagail's, at the jail, at the saloon, and on our walks by the pond." He wasn't in the mood to have another one of their conversations they have had countless times.

"I was never engaged to Charles!"

"Elizabeth…" He stated in a hushed voice filled with frustration, or maybe defeat. Usually when he elongated her name, she would swoon at his gesture. Now, she shivered at his tone. It was anything but loving. "I was on the steps of the church. I arrived for our ride just after Mr. Kensington arrived. I saw him on bended knee. I heard the conversation. You said 'yes.'"

"Jack, I said yes that I would go back to Hamilton to speak with my father. I did not say yes to his proposal."

"Yes you did. I heard the excitement in his voice. He said that he agreed with you that he should wait to put your engagement ring on your finger in front of your parents."

"Jack, I said yes to going back to Hamilton, not to him." She was being respectful of his feelings, but she was also standing her ground.

Jack took another step back to create more distance between them. He shook his head. "Elizabeth, I'm not a dumb man. I am trained to pay attention to my surroundings and remember what is happening. I am trained well. You said yes. You most certainly did not say no. The next day you left with him. You lied to me in that letter."

"I didn't lie."

"I have pardoned you from us. What is it that you actually want from me?" His voice was growing with frustration and anger.

"Jack, I want us."

He let out a cold laugh. He didn't mean too, but it came out before he knew what he was doing. "You don't have to soften the blow, Elizabeth. It has already been delivered. You lied by omission. You left with that man. You were gone for weeks, and I never heard from you."

"Those were the greatest mistakes of my life. Jack, I am so sorry for what I did. I should never have done that."

Jack just stared at her. He couldn't understand the conversation. He turned again to leave but she reached for his arm. She was too far away from him for her to take his arm, but the gesture stopped him.

"Jack, I did not leave here with Charles in that way. He told me my father had bought me a train ticket for me to come home. It left at nine the next morning. During our conversation, I knew I had to speak with my father concerning my life here."

"And you left with a man who just proposed to you?"

Elizabeth nodded her head. "I did, but I never accepted his proposal."

"Elizabeth, you must take me for a fool. I heard you. I would dare say that Mr. Kensington left here thinking you two were engaged."

"I don't know why he thought that, but he did."

"You don't know why…" He asked with attitude with his arms outstretch to the side with his palms up. "I told you he would instantly step in and ask you if I wasn't around. I told you how he felt for you. You just kept saying he was a friend. Yet, you left here on his arm."

"I did not. I went home to talk with my father."

Jack shook his head. He was growing frustrated. "With a man who just proposed to you? Did you talk to your father?"

Elizabeth knew the next portion of the story was going to be hard. She wasn't going to lie to him. She wasn't going to keep secrets or allow misunderstandings to continue. That never worked for them, and she wasn't going to break her promise to herself. She was going to be completely honest and open to Jack. He deserved that.

"Not at first. I finally did before I come back here."

"Yeah…"

"Jack…"

"Elizabeth, why didn't you write while you were gone? Why did you lie in the letter you left for me?"

"I didn't want you to be upset that it was Charles who my father sent."

"Your father didn't send him at all. I know Mr. Kensington came on his own accord."

Elizabeth nodded her head.

"Why didn't you write me?"

"I got lost in my old life there. I was taken away by Viola and Julie on shopping trips."

"And your time with Mr. Kensington." It wasn't really a question.

She closed her eyes. "Yes." No matter how difficult the question or answer was, she wasn't hiding anything from Jack.

"I know my ma told you about me getting shot. I also know you didn't write me after that."

Her silence frustrated him. Jack let out a deep breath and turned to walk away from town. She watched him for a couple of steps and then quickly walked to catch up to him. She tried to close the distance between them, but he stepped further away to keep the separation. He wouldn't even look at her.

…

Faith sat beside Lee's bed on a chair. Rosemary had just stepped outside.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm ok. Still hurts a little bit but getting better."

"I'll let you go home tomorrow on three conditions."

"Great. What are the conditions?"

"First, you continue to improve."

"Done."

"Secondly, you stay off that foot. I will have you some crutches to use. You can't but any weight on that foot for four weeks."

"That's easy. I think it will hurt too much to put any weight on it. Now, I get the feeling I'm not going to like the third condition."

"You are a smart man, Lee Couter. No working for four days. Today is Thursday, you may return to work on a limited basis on Monday. You must still stay off your foot and you have to leave work by two."

Lee exhaled. "Fine. I can live by those terms."

"Great, then that means you can keep your foot. Those gashes need to heal and that break should heal just find. Now, what do you say about lunch? After that, I will get you started on learning how to use those crutches."

"Let's get started."

…

Without thinking what he was doing, Jack began to walk toward the pond. He was trying to control his frustration along with his emotions. He continued to walk with his head down. He didn't see Elizabeth, but he heard her footsteps beside him. He made sure the distance between them remained appropriate.

"I tried to write you…"

"Sure you did." Jack smirked. "Instead of writing your boyfriend, what were you doing?" Jack thought he knew, but he wanted to know for sure.

Elizabeth hesitated. She knew he wouldn't like what she was about to say. She promised herself many times that she would answer any questions he asked. There were not going to be any more misunderstandings.

"There were seven parties I went too. I went shopping and many luncheons with Viola and Julie. I also had luncheons and dinners with Charles. I also went to those parties with him. But Jack…we were only friends."

Jack stopped walking and turned to Elizabeth. He counted to ten trying to keep from yelling. "Elizabeth…" He sounded frustrated. "Mr. Kensington proposed to you. You accepted it. You left town with him the next day. You lied in your letter to your boyfriend. You went to lunches and dinners with him. You went to parties with him. I'm assuming you danced with him at those parties. During all that time, you never wrote to me in any form. What in all of that describes you not accepting his proposal?"

"Jack, I did not accept his proposal, nor did we courted."

"Are you telling me you did all of that with him and you don't consider that courting that scoundrel?"

"I wouldn't necessarily call Charles a scoundrel."

"He is to me!" Jack basically yelled. "He proposed to someone else's girlfriend in the very schoolhouse the boyfriend built for her."

"So, you did build the schoolhouse for me."

Elizabeth's attempt at humor did not impress Jack. His facial expression did not change.

"I never courted him. Jack, I promise I didn't."

"Elizabeth…" Jack let out a long sigh. "Everyone in the world would consider that courting except for you. I know Mr. Kensington believed you two were courting and engaged. I bet your mother and father believed you two were together. Everyone in the world assumed you two were courting. You are the only one in the whole world that thinks you two wasn't courting. I know people here thinks so."

Elizabeth hung her head. She knew Jack was right. Everyone did think she was courting and engaged to Charles. She wasn't, but she could understand why they would think that way. She never thought it was inappropriate. They were just friends.

"They all did."

"You know, I was never like that with Rosemary. She would squirm her way in with me and I tried my best to avoid her. Yet, you still said that I must have feelings for her. You asked me to step back to see what I wanted. Even when I told you that I wanted to be with you, you wouldn't believe me."

Elizabeth remembered the Rosemary fiasco all too well. She did accuse Jack of still having feelings for Rosemary. She also remembered that he did his best to avoid Rosemary.

"Do you remember when I was working on the stove at the schoolhouse?"

She didn't know why he brought that up. "Yes, I remember."

"I was kneeling at the stove working on it. Your students were talking about who you were going to marry. Half of your students thought you were going to marry me, and the other half thought you were going to marry Mr. Kensington."

Elizabeth nodded her head. She remembered how embarrassed she was during her students' questions. "I remember."

"How many of your students thought I was going to marry Rosemary? Did you even consider how that made me feel?"

Elizabeth was taken back by his question. She knew half her students said she would marry Jack while the other half thought she would marry Charles. She looked down with frustration and a little bit of embarrassment. After a few moments, she raised her head. Her shoulders were set. She wanted Jack. She knew this was Jack's way of working through his emotions and feelings. While the conversation was uncomfortable, he wasn't wrong. She just never knew how much he felt that way. Whatever he needed to do or say, she was willing to take the hit. For her, this was the beginning corner stone of their relationship. She was not giving up of them. She was fighting for this with everything she had.

"Jack, I can't change the past. I wish I would. If I could, I would begin with the first time we were in Hamilton. I would never allow my family to treat you the way they did. You would never have had the opportunity to question my feelings for you. I would do so many things differently. I can't change the past. However, I can change our today and our tomorrow."

Jack stood about five feet away from her. He tried to read her facial expression. He couldn't read her like he could just a few weeks ago, but he could see the determination on her face and in her body gesture. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

…

"Auntie Abagail, would it be alright if I go out with Robert and the other fellas to play ball."

"Sure." Abagail smiled. She loved that little boy. "Please don't go where you are not supposed to be going and make sure you are back here in enough time for dinner."

"Yes, ma'am. I promise." He ran up to her and hugged her. She leaned to kiss the top of his head.

"That boy has you under his thumb." Charlette smiled as they watched JJ run out of the café.

"He certainly does. I don't know how he did it so fast, but he has a big part of my heart."

"As strange as it sounds, he acts a lot like Jack did at that age."

They stood in silence for a few moments. Charlette began to help Abagail clean the tables.

"Charlette, what's your honest opinion on Jack and JJ?"

"I think Jack loves that little boy. I can see it in his eyes. He just lights up when he sees that boy."

"He does." Abagail laughed. "JJ is the same way."

"I think JJ is good for Jack. I also think JJ will be the key for Elizabeth and Jack."

"I agree on both accounts. I can already see Elizabeth is in love with JJ."

"Now, Elizabeth must continue on her quest to win Jack and continue to grow closer to JJ. I suspect they will all be a family rather sooner than later."

"Agreed."

"Now, Abagail…what is going on with you and Frank?"

"Oh…" Abagail blushed.

"He seems like a good man."

"He is. A bit of a past, but he is not that man anymore."

"That's important. I have to say that you two look good together."

Abagail's face grew redder.

…

"Good afternoon, sir."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Johnson. Is everything good for tomorrow?"

"It is. We are taking the next step then. It will happen either at noon or after the work day is finished."

"Why two potential times?"

"If the area is empty of people, he will do it during lunch. If too many people are around, he will do it after the word day is finished and everyone has left."

"Why chance it during the day if you have a plan of the evening?"

"Our inside man thinks people will by the accident more if it's done during the day when people are somewhat around. We want this to be seen as an accident. The explosion will be big enough to destroy the number two blade and engine, but not so big to destroy everything."

"That way it looks more like an accident?"

"Yes, sir. If we are lucky, being down the second blade and engine will result in the closing of the mill. If not, we go to step three."

"If it's one big explosion, then it may be seen as done with intent instead of an accident."

"Correct, sir."

"No one will be injured?"

"Correct."

"That's important. I do not want anyone injured!"

"Understood sir. That has been relayed to our inside man."

"Very well, Mr. Johnson. Let's make it happen."

…

"What happened?"

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked confused.

"Did you and Mr. Kensington have an argument or something? Are you here because you two had a falling out and I'm better than nothing? Are you just using me to make him jealous?"

"Jack, it's not like that at all. I know what I want. I want you. I want you as my husband. I want you for life. Jack, it's us and no one else.

"Elizabeth, maybe you just need to go back to Hamilton and fix whatever problem you two have had. I'm certain you can work it out. Like you keep telling me, you two have been friends for your entire life. I'm sure the argument is just that, a simple dispute. Every couple has disagreements. You two will eventually work it out."

"Jack. I want you!" She stated as she took a half a step forward.

"Just go home Ms. Thatcher."

Jack's words stung her to her core. "I am home!" She stood taller and took another half step closer to him. She knew he was angry. She understood. She was very angry with Rosemary. She wasn't backing down. The rest of her life was in the balance, and she felt that. She was not backing down for anything. This was the beginning of their new relationship. Their future was beginning with this difficult conversation. She was not losing this opportunity to begin again with Jack.

She wanted to embrace him into a hug and a kiss that he would remember for the rest of his life. She wanted to feel his strong arms around her, but she knew she forfeited that right five weeks ago. She was not leaving this pond with Jack and not have a path to reconciliation. Nothing was stopping this from happening. Her desire for Jack was driving her determination. She was finding an inner strength that she never knew she had.

"Elizabeth, you told me that I needed to think long and hard about what I wanted. You questioned my intentions with you and with Rosemary. I think you need to do the same thing. I honestly don't think you know what you want. You don't know your mind or heart."

"Jack." Elizabeth whispered in a soft voice. "I know you have lost some faith in me. I have a lot of work to do to gain that faith back. But Jack, you must understand…it is my desire to win that faith back. I want you in my life. I want you as my husband. We are going to face this life together. It's you and me. We will be married. We will live our life together and face this life as one."

Elizabeth laid her whole heart in front of Jack. She didn't hold back, nor did she try to force the conversation in a certain direction. Jack had to work this out in his head and his heart. She was allowing him to do what he needed to do to begin their relationship again.

They didn't know how long they looked into each other's eyes. They didn't break eye contact. The conversation was intense. Their emotions were laid out in the open and Elizabeth placed her heart open in front of Jack. Now, she had to wait to see if he was willing to give her a chance.

Everything Elizabeth said was exactly what he wanted to hear. However, it was weeks late. He couldn't get over everything. All the time she spent with Mr. Jaw after he made his intentions clear was difficult for him to understand. He was confused and that confusion only increased the more they spoke.

He remembered asking Elizabeth the same think about regaining faith. If she asked this weeks ago, he would immediately give her every opportunity to do so. Now, he just wasn't sure. He was impressed with her purpose and her standing firm in what she wanted. He just wasn't sure if she was sincere or not. After all, they have had this discussion numerous times before and it all led to the same conclusion.

As much as he tried to fight against it, his heart pulled him to Elizabeth. She still had the ability to draw him into her. He knew he couldn't fight it.

With a simple nod of his head, he broke eye contact with her and began to slowly walk back toward the town.

Elizabeth smiled. She knew he was giving her the opportunity to show him that her heart was true to him. The conversation did not end the way she wanted it to, but she knew he needed to work things out in his way. He gave her all the time she needed with Rosemary. She had to do the same with him, however difficult that would be for her to wait. Ever since she saw him in the café for a few moments yesterday, she wanted to be in his arms. She wanted to kiss him with passion.

Elizabeth's smile grew a little during their walk back to town. He didn't keep such a great distance between them. They weren't very close, but the distance did seem a little bit smaller. This wasn't extremely hopeful. However, she took his slight head nod as a gesture that he was willing to at least give her the opportunity to prove herself.

"I promise you…you will never doubt my love for you again." She whispered just loud enough for him to hear her. Jack never looked in her direction. He simply nodded his head.