Back In Hope Valley

Hamilton is known for its restaurants and extravagant hotels and malls. Everyday, these places are filled with people all dressed to their best. However recent reports have shown that Hamilton is becoming known to be a place where a lot of shady deals could be made, and reporters are finding out that there is no exception for any family to be caught in these kinds of issues.

Jack's eyes dashed through this headline, thoughts drifting through his mind, while sipping his cup of coffee, every couple of minutes gazing out the window of Abigail's cafe, the hope valley view in his vision. Usually, he spent his mornings with Elizabeth, but ever since she left him ... .There I go again, I need to get her out of my brain. He thought, frustratedly, everywhere was reminding him of her, even his newspaper. But, he couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking of him, as much as he was of her.

Jack took his last sip of coffee from the cup, and went to Abigail to return it, and noticed Abigail was in quite a haze. Jack understood. Honestly, it seemed that time stopped in Hope Valley after Elizabeth left, but he knew. He had to keep going on, even if it seems like it's the most impossible thing to do. His mind just seems to be drifting into another imaginary world, one which he always dreamed of possible but now seemed to have slipped from his fingers.

Ms D was walking by the mercantile, when she noticed Constable Thornton stepping out of the cafeteria into town. Remembering Ms Thatcher's suggestions for her, she quickly walked down the steps

"Constable Thornton!"

Jack turned around in his spot, his hat under his left arm. Noting the grim view of his face, she kept walking towards the direction Jack was,

"I was thinking, I know that I'm new and all, but it might be great to strengthen the relationships with the children…"

Taking a moment of silence, ensuring the constable was listening

"If it might be great to do a camping trip!"

Jack looked at her curiously

"When I met with Ms Thatcher, she said that it really helped strengthen bonds in class, and I was hoping if it could strengthen my bonds with them"

"Well, Ms Davenport, you are a complete different teacher from Ms Thatcher, so her methods, might not always work for you"

Ms Davenport picked up her skirt, noticing they were walking up the stairs to the Jail, not wanting to trip on it.

'I know that, but I just thought it might be a fun experience'

Jack stood right outside the door, and he had this thoughtful expression on his face.

'Alright, but I think you should ask Pastor Frank this time to help with the boys'

Ms Davenport gave him a small smile, her eyes beaming with excitement at him.

"Thank you constable, have a good day"

Jack nodded at her, before entering the Jailhouse. He took a seat but his eyes immediately fell to the picture of Elizabeth and him. He took a sigh to try and regain his thoughts back. Even though she had broken off things with him, he couldn't help but have an inkling that there is more to the story that he needs to know. He has this strange fear that Elizabeth might need help. Jack shook his head from the thoughts that were taking in his mind, and replaced it with heartbreak from Elizabeth's departure. He knew his brain would just be replacing her departure as thoughts instead of her just leaving him, because it would hurt too much for him if he thought it that way. But Elizabeth being in danger is just as bad. Maybe even worse.

He took the photo in his hands, holding the frame close to him, before putting it in a drawer, closing it shut.

Back in Hamilton

*BANG*

Elizabeth's gun went off, the bullet flying through the air into the target, creating a small hole in the skin, on the bigger circles surrounding the small red circle. She was getting frustrated, she seemed to keep on trying but she couldn't seem to get her aim right. Jack. The name just popped into her head all of a sudden. Pain shot through her heart.

She shut her eyes, and pictured Jack helping her change her position holding the gun. She could almost feel his body heat right behind her. One hand on her shoulder the other hand around her waist, his breath tingling on her ear. She brought her hand back to the trigger, holding her hand out and steady and pushed the back of her finger against the trigger.

*BANG*

The noise echoed through the forest, and in Elizabeth's eardrums. She kept her eyes shut, the feeling of Jack behind her never leaving. Not wanting that feeling to go away. She opened her eyes, half-hoping Jack would be behind her ready to encompass her in his arms. The feeling went away. The emptiness behind her spacing through the empty fields. She felt her heart drop to her stomach. The only sense of feeling behind her was the chill breeze of spring air hitting the brown coat on her back, making her feel cold and miserable as she placed her hands on her upper arms brushing it, hoping the chill would pass.

Elizabeth slowly walked towards the target, and sighed relief filling up her body. Right in the middle of the target was a small hole, where the bullet ripped it up, and lay on the green grassy patch behind the target. Right on the dot.

Elizabeth wiped her hand on her forehead, wiping off beads of sweat which started dripping, from the heat, and from the anxiety which started building up within her, as the dreaded and fearsome day started getting closer. She brought her hand to her pink cheeks, and brushed off a teardrop which fell off the bottom of her eye and slowly started drooping down her flushed cheeks.

Hearing hooves hitting the grass patch behind her, she turned instantly. Her short wavy hair flipping gently with the wind, the rush of air echoing through her ears. Julie, in her blue coat, and black boots stretching to just above her knee was riding to her. The fear glimmering tears in Julies' hazel eyes was seen to Elizabeth, and her ginger hair tied up in a tight bun, her lips pressed tight made Elizabeth feel dread burn up inside of her. Behind Julie's horse,was a small cart which it was dragging which contained two small bags. It was at that moment, Elizabeth knew. She felt fear in her heart, and for a second she swore her heart stopped for a second. Her eyes became blurry, but she knew she had to do this. For her family. For her mother. For her father. Elizabeth and Julie had to do it.

Elizabeth kept repeating these words in her head, as she grabbed one of the brown bags in the small carriage which Julie's horse was dragging against the muddy grass behind them. She grabbed it and went into the clearing, taking her time to switch into more appropriate clothes but aware that they were spending limited time.

Elizabeth started heading towards a small shack which led the clearing into the forest. She and Julie came across it when she was horse riding one day, she remembered.

As she exited the mini shack, with the proper clothes, cream shirt the collar of the shirt poked out at the top of her dark brown coat which fell to just above her knees. She wore long dark brown pants which fell down and tucked under her light brown boots which rose to just above her knees.

"You ready?"

Elizabeth asks, looking up at Julie, while climbing on top of Cherry and pulling the reins, pulling the horse away from clearing and headed into the dark woods.

Julie nodded, biting her lip, trying to control the whimper and the water which was filling up her eyes.

Elizabeth knew, if she said anything it would make things worse. Elizabeth knows her sister understands that Elizabeth has to do this, but understands if she is feeling scared and understands the situation.

"When I say to go-"

"I get it Elizabeth."

Julie snapped back at her, shocking Elizabeth, but she turned back to the direction she must head, and led her horse and Julie into the woods.