Author's Note:

I'm sorry…I completely whiffed at Abagail's deceased son's name. I called him Noah, which was her deceased husband's name. The son's name was Peter. Sorry for my goof.

I hope you are enjoying the story. The story is progressing well. This chapter is full of cute and funny interactions between Elizabeth and JJ.

Chapter 13

"Do you know what happened?" Lee looked at his girlfriend, Rosemary.

"I don't know, but Jack will probably be by a little later. You know he won't leave you out in the dark."

"I can't wait to get out of here."

"Well, Let's get a couple of things out of the way, and I will let you go." Faith stated with a smile as she walked into the infirmary. She knew Lee was anxious to go home, and to be honest, he was driving her a little crazy by him asking every few minutes.

"You remember the conditions for me letting you go home today, right?" Asked Faith.

"Sure do. I promise I will stay off my foot until you give me the ok and I will not go to the office until Monday, and then I leave at noon."

"Perfect." Faith smiled.

"I'll make sure he follows the rules." Rosemary stated in a firm tone.

"And that means Mr. Hickam is not allowed to bring work to you over the weekend either." Smirked Faith without looking at Lee.

Lee looked shocked at first and then he couldn't hide the grin that was forming on his lips. He knew he was caught.

"Give me thirty minutes and I will let you go home. I just have to get a few things ready for you to take with you."

"Thank you." Smiled Rosemary.

"Thank you, Faith. You have been a great nurse. I appreciate you helping me so much."

"You're welcome, Mr. Coulter."

"Lee, please." He smiled. "We are all grateful you accepted the position here.

Rosemary tried to smile at the discussion between the two, but she just couldn't. She did not want to seem rude, so she spoke. "We are all happy you are here."

"Thank you."

…

"Jack's back." Abagail stated when she looked out the window toward Main Street. Jack was walking on the opposite side of the street with his head down. He looked lost in thought.

Elizabeth almost tripped over her dress trying to get to the window to look at him.

"Oh…my…" She barely stated as she let out a quick breath. Abagail was standing right beside her and had trouble hearing her.

Elizabeth couldn't take her eyes off him. He looked tall and strong in his red serge. She always loved it when he wore the serge. He still looked a little thin, but you could tell he was still muscular. He was clean shaven and wearing his Stetson hat. She maneuvered her body so she could look at him a little longer as he walked past the café.

"What are you two doing?" JJ asked as she skipped down the stairs.

"Nothing." Both ladies jumped as he scared them.

"JJ, I told you that you shouldn't sneak up on people. You should announce yourself as you walk into a room." Abagail said trying to catch her breath.

"I did…I asked what you two were doing." He stated in a normal tone. He couldn't understand why he was in trouble. JJ walked to the window. He wanted to see what they were looking at so intently.

"You're looking at Mr. Yost's wagon?" He asked dumbfounded.

"At what?" Elizabeth asked, looking back out the window. Jack was already gone and only Mr. Yost's wagon was there.

"Are you two feeling ok?" JJ asked hesitantly. He looked at them like they were sick or something.

"We're fine young man. Now, go into the kitchen. There are some chocolate chip cookies…"

JJ turned around and quickly ran toward the kitchen before Abagail was able to finish her statement.

"Three cookies young man…three cookies." She yelled as Elizabeth laughed.

"I'm going to need to learn how to make those."

"That boy…" Abagail exhaled a long breath.

"He is priceless." Elizabeth smiled looking at the entryway to the kitchen. Even though she couldn't see JJ any longer, she still couldn't take her eyes away.

"So, a family…" Abagail stated with a little bit of an older sister smirk.

"Abagail, I can't help but think of Jack, JJ, and me. It's all consuming. I hate washing clothes, but I smiled the entire time washing JJ's clothes today."

Abagail laughed at her friend. She knew Elizabeth had it bad. "Chores are just different when you do them for the people you love. I know we've talked about you and Jack's talk yesterday. How are you feeling about it after a night's sleep?"

"About the same. I know he's hurt and confused. I tried to tell him how I was feeling, but I know I have to show him too. Words won't do it."

"Very true."

"I should have listened to you before I left with Charles. You told me that I was putting my relationship in jeopardy by leaving…I just knew Jack would understand. I let things go way too far…" Her voice grew weaker.

"At least you have a start of rebuilding your relationship. Jack will be cautious at first. He's still angry, confused, and hurt. He'll see that you are sincere."

"I hope so." She sighed. "I want it now, Abagail! I want Jack now! I want us! The life we should already be living. The more I think about it, the more I want it. Does that make any sense?"

"It makes perfect sense. Once you have made your mind up, you want the desires of your heart. You just have to be patient with him. He gave you a long time with Rosemary. You must give him the same consideration. I do believe he will see that your heart is true, but it will take some time."

Her sigh made Abagail chuckle. Elizabeth knew Abagail was correct, she just didn't want to wait. Her heart was already desiring Jack and JJ…but especially Jack.

"So, what's going on with you and the pastor." Smirked Elizabeth hoping to change the conversation.

…

"Sir, this was just delivered by messenger."

"Thank you."

Sir –

Sawmill crippled just like we planned. That engine will be down for weeks. No one injured. Step three will be in six days from today. The plan is working perfectly.

– Johnson

…

Charlette sat down with Abagail after the lunch rush to catch her breath. Elizabeth took JJ with her to the schoolhouse. They were going to look for some books. Plus, this gave Charlette and Abagail a break from babysitting duties.

"Chasing a kid is for the young!" Charlette exclaimed and she signed after sitting down.

"You aren't kidding. That little boy has all the energy of five boys."

"Yeah. I don't know how Jack is doing it."

"He is doing rather well. I knew he loved children since I met him. He was always so good with the kids at school.

"I knew from his childhood he would be a good father. When his dad died, he really stepped up for Tom."

…

Tom sat on the picnic table in the park in Hamilton waiting. Patience is not his virtue. Finally, he noticed a beautiful red head approaching him with a huge smile. "Julie, I thought you forgot about me."

"Tom! I would never forget about you." Julie stated and she gave him a hug and a small kiss on the cheek. Are you ready?"

Since Elizabeth left, Mr. Thatcher was even worse than before. He was sullen, hateful, and blamed everything on Jack.

"Somehow Jack brainwashed her and confused her." Mr. Thatcher mumbled throughout the day.

With Elizabeth gone, he turned his wrath completely on Julie. Julie became frustrated with her father and decided she had had enough. She reconnected with Tom. She talked him into coming back for her and letting her go with him. She didn't have a hard time convincing him. He had fallen for her as much as she had for him.

After a small lunch shared between the two, they got up to grab their suitcases to head for Tom's job. "Julie, are you certain about this? I can never give you what you are used to. I am just beginning to find my way in this world, but if you are willing, we can do this together."

"Tom, that is exactly what I want to do. Money is not all it is made out to be. I want happiness and to be with someone I love. I don't have that here, but I know I can have that with you."

They both gave each other a big, silly smile while they grabbed their suitcases and headed to the train station.

…

"Hey Jack, what's going on?"

Jack took a chair and moved it beside Lee's bed. "Lee, there was an explosion at the mill." Jack took a few minutes to share with Lee everything that happened that morning. He shared the extent of the damage to the second engine. He also shared that Hickam was already telegraphing a mechanic a few towns away for him to immediately come to repair the damage.

"The men did a good job of putting out the fire before too much was damaged. The shed was damaged, but Hickam thinks the mechanic can fix the engine in three or four days."

"Jack, I can't have that blade down that long!"

"Lee, we are lucky it's repairable and rather quickly."

Lee closed his eyes and counted to ten. He needed to calm his mind a little. Jack was right. He was grateful the engine and blade weren't completely destroyed, but the down time was going to make it very difficult to get the orders out on time.

"That's true Jack, but I'm going to be in trouble not getting those orders out on time."

"Is there any way of working the one blade to get the orders out?"

"I don't know…" Lee thought about it for a few minutes. "I can't work them long days for too long. That will wear them out after a couple of days. When people work around a saw blade for too many hours, they become tired and tired people get seriously hurt."

"That's true. How many orders are in danger of not being filled?"

"Enough for me to lay people off." Lee stated softly. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

Jack sat back in his chair. He was trying to find a way to get Lee some help.

"Hickam thinks the engine can be fixed in three or four days. The mechanic will take a day to travel here. So, the best case scenario is the engine will be down at least four days."

Lee continued to run his hands through his hair. He was trying to calm his emotions. "Maybe…"

"Maybe?" Asked Jack.

"Maybe if we run two shifts. The first shift can start before daylight. They can prepare everything until it gets enough daylight to run properly and safely. The later shift can work a little after dark getting what they can ready for the morning. Maybe we can split lunch hour and breaks so the blade will keep running continuously?"

"Will that work?"

"Maybe…if nothing else, I won't fall behind too much on orders and be forced to lay people off."

"That might do you until the second engine is fixed in a little under a week."

"If I'm lucky. I can't do that too long or I'll wear out the first engine."

"You wouldn't have to do that but for a week at most. When the mechanic gets the second engine up and running, he could look at the first engine to see if anything happened to it."

Lee thought about it for a few moments. "I guess that's the best option I have. I need to ask for volunteers to work second shift."

"I'll have Hickam come by your home to get all the details from you."

"Thanks Jack."

…

"Are you busy?" Frank asked later on in the afternoon.

Abagail looks up to a smiling Frank. He walks into the kitchen where she is working on some pies for the dinner rush.

"I'm a little busy. Why?"

"Would you like some help?"

"You can bake pies?" She smirked.

"I can follow directions." Frank smirked back.

"Can you follow directions from a woman?" She smiled.

"Abagail, you have been ordering me around for weeks now." He sassed and then dodged her playful swat.

"Are you complaining?" She matched his sass.

"Not at all." He flirted.

"Don't you have other things to do other than bake pies?"

"I'd rather spend the evening with you doing whatever it is."

"I'd like that too." She smiled back at him.

"Abagail…" Frank began but was too nervous to just come out and say what's on his heart.

Abagail looked up and saw his expression. She noticed the look in his eyes. They were filled with complete love. That made her nervous for a moment, but she knew she was in love with this man. This was difficult for her. Noah was the love of her life. She loved him completely. Feelings were beginning to develop with Bill, but his hiding the truth from her concerning his ex-wife squashed those feelings quickly. That is why she understood Jack's feelings so well. After Bill, she closed herself off to any future relationships. That was until Frank stepped into the café one day. She almost felt like he belonged there. As much as she tried to keep from feeling anything more for him than friendship, she couldn't keep her heart from being drawn to this pastor. From day one, Frank walked into her heart as if he owned it.

"Frank…I feel the same way." She stated as she reached for his hands.

"Abagail, I must say this." Frank took a deep breath. He had to summon all his courage. He wanted to make sure this was stated right. "Abagail, as much as I tried to keep our relationship as friends, I simply can't. My heart won't allow it. I know what I feel for you. I'm not falling in love with you…I am in love with you." He let out a shallow breath. "I know you may not feel that way, but Abagail…"

"I love you, Frank. I have tried to keep myself from it, but I can't deny what I feel for you."

With her statement, Frank gently leaned in and gave her a passionate kiss.

…

Jack stepped out of the infirmary and looked around the town. He was certain the accidents were done with intent. He just didn't know why or who. Things just weren't adding up. The town was slowly growing. It was a typical small western town. The people of Hope Valley were good, down to earth people. They worked hard. They loved their families. They cared for their neighbors. Lee just wasn't the person who brought bad things to himself. Jack was confused about the case.

Jack shook his head. He was not only confused with the case, but the talk with Elizabeth yesterday was still not making sense to him. He needed to clear his head. He took a deep breath and decided to do one of the things he would normally do to think. Sergeant was riding hard the last few weeks. He didn't want to ride him today. He was trying to give him a few days off. The only other thing he could do to clear his head was to chop wood. It was summer, so the school or the jail didn't need wood. However, he could chop some for Abagail. She always needed wood. The café always went through a lot of wood. Jack frequently chopped wood for Abagail. She was always helping him out. He thought it was a good thing to do in return.

Jack stopped by the jail to drop off his red serge and pick up his ax and a sharpener for the blade. He had a lot to think through.

…

Elizabeth came down to help Abagail, but she stopped on the last step of the stairs when she saw Frank and Abagail hugging in front of the stove. Both were smiling lovingly at each other. Frank leaned in and gently kissed Abagail on the lips. Elizabeth smiled at the love between the two. She was always afraid Abagail closed her heart off after her husband died in the mine and then with Bill not being completely honest with his ex-wife.

She turned around to head back up the stairs. She was happy for her best friend. She was also a little jealous. For over a week, she has been wanting to be held by Jack. She always adored his hugs. She cherished it when he held her tight. She felt protected and loved in his embrace. She loved his scent. While his hands were rough like a working man's hands, he had a gentle touch. She sighed at the long memory of Jack's touch and his lips on her. She has missed him.

Elizabeth reached the top of the stairs and noticed how warm the upstairs were. She noticed the window closed. She walked toward the end of the hall to open the window. She heard something that she thought was wood being chopped. She gasped when she pulled the curtain back to open the window.

…

"Alright, Mr. Coulter, remember the rules. No work until Monday and no weight bearing on that foot for a good four to five weeks. I'll be out to your home tomorrow to check on you."

"Thank you Nurse Carter."

"Come on Lee. We need to get you home." Rosemary stated. She liked Nurse Carter, she just doesn't like it when she is talking to Lee. "I promise he will follow your guidelines."

"Thank you, Rosemary. I know you will do a good job watching after him. Make sure he stays off that foot and he isn't working until Monday."

"I will."

"Alright Lee, let's see how good you are with those crutches." Faith smiled.

…

Jack has been chopping wood for the last ten minutes. The sun was beating down on him. He took his long sleeve mountie shirt off before he even started. He only had on a underneath, white shirt. It was thin. So thin that you could almost see through it. Given how thin the material is, plus, his sweat, it was easily seen through. It clung to his body. He thought about taking it off. He was behind the café and people rarely walk behind the buildings. He just didn't want to take that chance. He rolled up the sleeves to help as much as he could. His suspenders were off his shoulders hanging around his legs. This made his pants drop just a little on his hips. They weren't falling off of him, just a little lower than normal.

Elizabeth tried to inhale a breath of air, but her brain wasn't functioning very well. The air didn't fill her lungs. Jack was swinging the axe down on a large piece of wood. She could easily see his back, shoulder, and arm muscles bulge under his thin shirt. His hair was damp from sweat. When the axe contacted the wood, she jumped a little at the force he was swinging the axe. Jack bent over to pick up the smaller piece to throw on the growing pile to his right. Elizabeth braced herself against the wall when she saw his butt. His pants were lower than normal, and she thought the pants hugged him extremely well.

Elizabeth tried to breathe again when she thought of it. Jack had turned just to a side view before raising the axe again to deliver another blow. She remained braced against the wall with her left arm. With her right hand, she began to wave it in front of her trying to get some air. They have shared kisses in the past, but she has never seen him like this. She knew he was in shape due to his job, but she had no idea what was laying under that red serge.

Every muscle of Jack's upper body was bulging and glistening with sweat. She was lost in the view of him each time he brought the axe down. Then she would admire his backside when he would bend over to pick up the piece of wood. She never understood why Ms. P would always enjoy watching her husband split wood, but now she perfectly understood it.

With each blow of the axe, Jack was working through his case and his problem with Elizabeth. He knew what he knew with the sawmill, but he only had one piece of evidence, the half charred blasting cap. He couldn't trace it due to its damage. Blasting caps were not so usual that everyone had them, but they weren't rare either. He didn't have any other evidence. Everything he had was circumstantial and wouldn't hold up in a court of law. He wanted to do this right. This involved his best friend. Jack still didn't think the instances were personally against Lee. He just didn't know why.

His mind quickly turned to Elizabeth. For weeks he has tried everything in his power to get over her. It was working too. She wasn't taking every moment in his head during the day. The memories were painful, but not debilitating like they were the first two or three weeks. The last week or so was just sadness at losing a love. Then JJ came into his life. He smiled at the thought of the little boy. That little guy was already cemented in his heart. JJ was a great distraction for Jack. He knew Elizabeth wouldn't be completely out of his mind, but he was thinking about her a lot less.

When he brought the axe down again, he remembered the vision of her laying on the couch with JJ wrapped in her arms. The sight was his dream coming to life. She was such a beautiful mom with her son wrapped in her protective arms. The real life version was much better than his dreams. He couldn't get over how she looked. She was beautiful. Her face was so peaceful while she slept. Her arms were wrapped around JJ protecting him. She was the picture perfect image of a mother. The image of her tiny waist beginning to move up to her hips was his undoing. He almost missed the rather large piece of wood.

He just couldn't understand why she was back. He knew she was engaged. He honestly thought that she and Charles must have had an argument and she came running back to Hope Valley and to him. His thinking was that she was using him to make Charles jealous and apologized. He was expecting Charles to show up on the next stagecoach at any time.

Elizabeth's words still rung in his ears though. She fiercely proclaimed she wasn't engaged to Charles. That she was in love with Jack and wanted to marry him. He was even more confused with Elizabeth than when he began chopping wood. The first part of his getting to know Elizabeth, he stayed confused. Their backgrounds and upbringing were so different. Jack believed that was the issue with their communication. He honestly tried to say what was in his heart, but he greatly fumbled it. He meant one thing and she understood it another way. He thought their time and conversation in the mine was the great turning point with them. He professed his love for her, and she reciprocated that love. Their kiss was intense and full of passion and want. It was a kiss of a new beginning for them. A few days later she left on the arm of Charles. He cursed himself when he missed the wood as he brought the axe down.

Elizabeth jumped when Jack missed the wood. She saw the frustration on his face as a result. She was also thinking it wasn't just because he missed. With his next blow to the wood, her mind traveled to what it would be like to feel his chest. She could see the muscles in his chest working. She stared at Jack, imagining she was walking up behind him. She softly touched his back, and he turned around with a smile on his face. Her smile grew when she grabbed the bottom of Jack's shirt and began to pull it over his head. He raised his arms with the biggest smile on his face. She threw the shirt to the ground and placed her palms on his chest. She shivered when she felt his skin. Jack placed his hands on her hips and began to pull her closer. She saw the passion and want in his eyes, and she was showing him her passion and want. "Oh…Jack…"

"Whatcha doing?"

Elizabeth jumped a foot off the ground and immediately turned with her back against the window. Her hands grasped each other in front of her chest. She was already having trouble breathing, now she couldn't catch her breath. She sat down on the windowsill and tried to force air into her lungs and her brain to function. She looked into the beautiful blue eyes of a five year old looking at her very confused.

"What?" She finally managed to speak softly. JJ was barely able to hear her.

"Whatcha doing?" He stepped forward wanting to look out the window to see what she was looking at.

Elizabeth stood but did not move. She didn't want JJ to see who she was looking at. She wasn't sure how to have that conversation with a young boy.

"Nothing."

"But, Ms. Elizabeth, you said 'Oh…Jack…' is he ok?"

"Yes. He's fine, great actually."

JJ tried to step to the side to look out the window. Elizabeth slid in front of the young boy keeping him from looking out the window. "It's a beautiful day. Why are you inside?" She was desperately trying to change the subject. "Do you want a book? Two books?" Elizabeth's face was bright red, and a little bit of sweat was on her top lip.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Asked a confused JJ.

"I'm fine young man." Elizabeth stood up straight and fixed her blouse. "If I remember correctly, Auntie Abagail has chocolate chip cookies on the counter.

"She did, but they are already gone."

"You ate all of them?"

"No…not all of them. Robert had a couple." JJ smirked.

"Go on…go downstairs. I'll be there in a little bit.

She smiled as she watched JJ walk away. He was so adorable she could almost eat him up. She couldn't wipe the smile away even if she wanted to.

…

Jack stepped inside the kitchen to let Abagail know there was some firewood stacked on her back porch. He had put on his shirt, but rolled up the sleeves because he was still hot. Sweat was beginning to work its way through his shirt.

"Look at you Jack, you must have worked hard."

"Not too hard. Just wanted to chop some wood for you."

"Thank you, Jack. That is so helpful. I never could have imagined that this place would use so much wood."

"Most of the time you don't allow me to pay for my meals. You keep JJ for me and feed that boy all the time. This is only fair."

As Jack placed his gloves on the side of the kitchen sink, he noticed something beside the sink that caught his attention. He slowly reached for it and gently picked it up. It looked a lot like the charred blasting cap that he had in the safe at the jail. This was in perfect condition but looked identical to the other one. It had the same added piece to one side of it.

"Abagail…where did you find this?"

"JJ came in earlier soaked from playing in the pond. Elizabeth was cleaning out his pockets and placed his things in his pockets to the side. I wasn't sure what he had in his pants."

"JJ had this?"

"Yes."

"Why was Elizabeth cleaning out his pockets?"

"She cleaned them out to wash his clothes. She found that after she found four dead tadpoles." Abagail finally turned her attention toward Jack. That was when she saw his shocked expression. She knew why he was so surprised. "Jack, you have to know she loves that boy."

"I knew they were getting closer, but she hates washing clothes."

"She isn't getting closer to JJ, Jack. She is already in love with that boy. Make no mistake about it. She does hate washing clothes, but she smiled the whole time washing his clothes today."

"Really?" Jack asked slowly.

"Jack…" Abagail stated as she approached Jack and offered him a smile. "She loved that boy and was grateful to do something for him. She does love that boy with all her heart…like a mother."

Jack's head shot up with that statement. Abagail never let her smile fade.

"Jack, I know you loved that woman. I also know you wanted to marry her. I would also dare say that you still love that woman and still want to marry her."

Jack shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other. He does love her, and if he is completely honest with himself, he does want to marry her. He is just unsure of her heart, and he is certain that she doesn't know her heart yet. Jack let out a long breath.

"I completely understand your hesitation, Jack. I really do, but please don't wall yourself off. I have never seen two people that should be together like the two of you."

Jack nodded his head. He was still holding the blasting cap in his hand, but it was completely forgotten about.

"I would have agreed with that statement six weeks ago, but Abagail…"

"I know Jack. I felt betrayed by Bill when he wasn't completely honest with me concerning his ex-wife. Elizabeth isn't Bill."

"In some ways Abagail, I think it's worse."

Jack and Abagail had discussed the situation with Bill in detail. Abagail knew that he was close to Bill, and she wanted some insights.

"How so?"

Jack pulled out a chair for her to sit. Then he sat down across the table from her. They were in her kitchen. He knew they had privacy.

"Well…" Jack began. "Both kept very important information from us. Bill didn't tell you about his previous wife. He let you think she passed when she didn't. He only told you when you found out by going into his room at the saloon when he asked you to get something for him."

"True."

"He was only honest when he was caught."

"Yes."

"Elizabeth did the same thing."

Neither Jack nor Abagail realized that Elizabeth was listening. She was on her way down the stairs when Jack and Abagail began speaking. JJ went into the room where he would stay at the café. She didn't mean to listen in, but she couldn't help herself when she heard that they were discussing her. She sat quietly listening to Jack opening his heart.

"How so?"

"In the letter she left me at the jail, she said that she was going back to talk to her father about her life in Hope Valley. She stated that she had an escort that her father sent. That was it. Mr. Kensington did not come to be her escort. Her father did not send him to be her escort. She did not tell me that he proposed to her. She did not tell me that he was here. She only admitted to it when she was caught. I don't think she would have ever told me if I didn't already know. Plus, they kissed on the porch of the café in front of everyone." Jack lowered his head. He was basically whispering. Elizabeth might have had trouble hearing everything, but she did hear it.

"That is a lot of similarities. She admitted that she made a mistake."

"And so did Bill." Jack sighed to his big sister.

Abagail nodded her head in agreement. Jack did have a point in how Elizabeth acted. Abagail also knew she couldn't argue Elizabeth's side because she personally stopped seeing Bill because of what he did. She also knew that she and Bill did not have the history that Jack and Elizabeth had. She wondered if that would have helped or if it would have made it worse.

"Jack, honestly, what do you think about starting again with Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth quietly slid closer to the edge of the step to make sure she could hear. She felt like her life was in the balance.

Jack thought about it for several moments before looking into Abagail's eyes. "I loved her, Abagail. I still do…but Abagail, I don't know if I can trust her. What happens when Mr. Kensington comes again? Will she just leave with him without question? What if her parents threaten her? Will she just pack up and leave like she already did? I can't help but feel that I am just sitting myself up for her to crush me again."

"I think she may have decided on all of that. She's here, isn't she?"

"I'm not so sure…" He trailed off thinking of all the other times they have had this talk. "We have discussed this before, and nothing has changed. She left lying to me. She did not get in touch with me for those four to five weeks. She didn't even check in when I was shot. She completely forgot about me."

"I don't think she did. Her and I wrote to each other."

"Maybe so, but she didn't write to me."

Abagail leaned back in her seat. "You didn't really answer my question."

Jack exhaled. "I don't know. She seemed determined when she asked for me to let her try to regain my faith."

"Doesn't that mean she changed?"

"Abagail. You know how she acted around Mr. Kensington better than I do. When you saw them together, would you have believed they were courting?"

Abagail lowered her head at all the memories of Elizabeth and Charles together. She didn't say anything. She slightly nodded her head. Jack was barely able to see it. The two stared at each other for several long moments. She noticed a certain look in Jack's eyes.

"Jack, as bad as those things are, not one of them is what concerns you the most is it?"

"Don't you think that's enough?"

"I certainly do, but I know you. All of that isn't what is causing you the biggest problem is it?"

Elizabeth wiped away a tear. She held one hand over her mouth as she took in everything that Jack said. As painful as it was to hear the words, the tone in his voice caused her the most hurt.

"No…it isn't." He sighed as he leaned in to speak softly to his friend. "I can't understand how she didn't think she was courting him. They spent so much intimate time together. They had countless lunches, dinners, and attended parties with each other during that time in Hamilton. She only danced with him. He would escort her to the parties and then escort her home. He would kiss her at the end of the evening. She would only dance with him at those parties. Abagail, you know I was never that way with Rosemary. I avoided her all that I could. Elizabeth accused me of still having feelings for Rosemary. It took me weeks to convince her I wasn't in love with Rosemary. I never acted anything like she did with Mr. Kensington, not even close." Jack closed his eyes for a moment. After a deep breath, he continued. "How am I supposed to believe her when she did so much more than I ever thought of doing. Then I'm to forget only after a day or two? Elizabeth continued with him knowing what I thought and then she continued with him after he proposed. Nothing stopped or changed between them. She continued with the lunches and dinners with just the two of them. She continued with the parties with just him. The public displays of affection with him long after he made his intentions clear."

Abagail didn't blink nor did she look away. She knew he was hurting because of Elizabeth's actions. She couldn't truly defend what Elizabeth did.

"If I had done anything like that with Rosemary, Elizabeth would never have spoken to me again. Now, I'm supposed to just believe what she says when I see something completely different? Elizabeth is an intelligent woman. So I'm to believe they didn't court? I'm supposed to think there was nothing romantic between them when her and I were courting?"

"Jack, Elizabeth has told me that the kisses between her and Charles were only on the cheek, and they were friendship kisses."

"Abagail…" Jack drew out her name. "All those kisses meant nothing but friendship?" The suspicious thought was evident in his tone. "If I would have let Rosemary kiss me on the cheek just once, what would you think Elizabeth would have done? Let alone multiple times after he proposed to her."

Abagail looked into the eyes of the younger brother in front of her. She saw the hurt and the love for Elizabeth. She knew there was something else that was causing the issue.

"Jack…may I ask you a question?"

Jack nodded his head. "Of course."

"With all of that said, why haven't you just walked away from her?"

Through Elizabeth's tears, Abagail certainly had her attention. Her heart was crushed at hearing Jack's words. He didn't say it in anger. His voice was weak…hurt. She would have preferred him to scream or throw something then the hurt sound she was hearing.

Jack shifted in his seat. As a mountie, he was taught to hold his emotions in. A mountie never shows emotions in public. It shows weakness.

"I really wanted to. I tried a few times, but…" Jack's voice trailed off to silence.

"But…?" Abagail asked leaning in toward Jack.

Jack sighed. "I just couldn't…"