Author's Note: I know that there are many issues that need to get resolved, but I have had several chapters written/planned before I took a break. I promise that Jack and Elizabeth will work on the issues between them, but it is going to take awhile to get there. I hope that you stick with me as the story unfolds. There are a lot more ups and downs before Jack and Elizabeth work things out. I thought about going back and changing several chapters, but then decided that this is my story and I am going to tell it in the order that I have chosen. Just because I don't address the issues right away, doesn't mean that I am sweeping them under the rug. It means that I am telling the story my way and I will get the issues and how they work them out when I get to them. I had a lot planned and some of it written out long before I realized that people had an issue with the way that things have gone.
Again, this is my story and I will tell it in the way that I want. I know that Jack and Elizabeth, as well as others have issues that need to get worked out, and they will, but on my timeline. I hope that people stick with me and this story, but I understand if you don't. All I am asking is for time to work things out in my way and in my time. I encourage comments and reviews as long as you can be positive or constructive in your cristim. I will not allow personal attacks like that took place before. I would soon delete this entire account and send the story to a few friends as I write it and allow what happened to happen again. So thank you to the people that have stuck with me and please give me some time to work things out. I have sketched out over thirty chapters and still haven't found a way for Jack and Elizabeth to come to an agreement on some things. I promise that I am working toward a solution that address a few issues, including the birth control issue that came up in Toronto. I have deal with other things and am trying to find a way to resolve the other issues without compromising the values that I have established very early on in this story.
I have been very clear that Jack is a Catholic Christian and his faith is very important to him. I am not going to compromise values or change a character just to suit some people that don't agree with the way that a true Catholic Christian lives out his or her faith. To a Catholic there are more important things then worldly pleasure and that is what Jack is struggling with. He is very smart, but doesn't have a way to express his faith in a way that Elizabeth understands because she grew up in a very different environment. Give them (and me) some time to work things out.
Chapter 190 – Early Morning Start
Frank and Nathan set about making breakfast while Gran talked to Jack a bit more about the trip to Toronto. As breakfast was being made, Lee wandered up and went straight for the coffee. After pouring his mug, he started another pot.
"Why are you up early?" Lee asked as he took a seat at the table.
"Lots to do today." Jack said. "I didn't say you had to be up."
"But I am." Lee said. "Might as well do something."
"Good." Jack said. "We have five horses in isolation that we need to care for. I have left strict instructions that no one is to touch those horses except us. Carlos will put the other five into holding pens, and feed them. We will need to brush them out. Tommy will be responsible for mucking the stalls. We have to do everything for the five in isolation, including feeding them."
"Got it." Lee said. "Guess, I will come down and help."
"Thank you." Jack said. "Rocky and Rainbow will be out of isolation tomorrow morning. So the girls will be able to ride them tomorrow."
"I doubt that there will be any riding this afternoon." Gran said. "It is supposed to rain again on and off this afternoon."
"We will just have to see." Jack said. "We can always go over to the arena, depending on lessons."
"Do you want me to call over and get a list of lessons?" Gran asked.
"No." Jack said. "I am not worried about it right now. We can deal with it later."
"Okay." Gran said.
Frank and Nathan brought breakfast to the table for all the guys.
"Frank." Jack said. "Will you please lead us in prayer?"
Frank nodded and all the guys bowed their heads.
"Heavenly Father." Frank prayed. "Thank you for this day. Please keep those that are traveling safe. Please be with us as we work with the horses and keep us all safe. Thank you to James and Margaret and them opening their home to us. Bless this food to our bodies and may we do Your will as we go about our day. Amen."
"Amen," The guys echoed.
They ate their breakfast and made a plan about what they were going to do. Jack wanted to check over the three new horses and see how they fared traveling. They also agreed to use the sand ring as long as the weather held. After the guys were done, they took their plates to the kitchen, rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher.
"Leave the rest." Gran said. "Go deal with the horses."
"Are you sure?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Gran said. "I can do the rest."
"Thank you." Jack said.
Jack, Doug and Lee gave Gran a kiss as they left out the back door. Frank and Nathan were right behind them. After the guys left, Gran did up the few dishes that didn't go in the dishwasher. She didn't mind, Frank and Nathan had cooked. After doing the dishes, Gran poured some coffee and took a seat at the counter. She looked over the list that she had given Abigail to see if there was anything else that was needed.
The guys headed to the stable and the first stop was isolation. They checked on Rocky and Rainbow. Both were doing well. Lee and Frank went to get their food while Jack went over to the other isolation stalls to see his newest horses. They greeted him with snorts and stomps. He had originally thought that they were going to be down by the arena, but Marco had requested that they be up near the small stable since they were moving thoroughbreds.
"Hey, enough of that." Jack said to the horses.
Doug just shook his head at Jack. It took a few minutes, but Jack was able to calm the horses down enough to enter the stall and look over each one. He saw that they still had plenty of water and hay.
"They just need some grain." Jack said.
"I will get it." Nathan said. "Are you going to turn them out?"
"Maybe later." Jack said. "For now, I want them to stay. They arrived late last night, so they haven't been here that long."
"Okay." Nathan said.
Jack checked over each of the three new horses. They seemed to handle the traveling well. He couldn't wait until he could see what they could really do. He was hoping to ride them before the girls, but wasn't sure that was going to happen. He knew that they would have to watch the horses for a bit. It wasn't that Jack didn't trust the guy that they were fully trained, but it was more that he wanted to make sure that the horses were up to his standards.
"Doug." Jack said.
"Yes." Doug said.
"Do you want to ride these guys this morning?" Jack asked.
"Maybe after we ride the others." Doug said. "I think that we should ride the others first, especially since these two are in isolation. Then we don't have to worry about anything in the sand ring. We can assign someone to clean it later or if it rains, it should be fine."
"Good plan." Jack said. "Let's go wash our hands and then start with the others."
"Got it." Doug said.
Jack and Doug headed in as the other fed the horses that were in isolation.
After she finished the dishes and looked over the grocery list, Gran called into Primal and added to the order. She figured that they might need it and she figured all else, she could just freeze the items. There was plenty of room in the freezer since they were going through things about as fast as she bought them. There was a part of Gran that wanted to go into town herself, but she knew that it would be a circus. It was hard to even get privacy when she had gone into town on Wednesday night for the ladies guild meeting. She knew that it would be worse with the kids back. She wondered if Jack had made a decision about talking to the press. She knew that Chris was going to talk to him about it on the way back. She hasn't asked him about it, because she didn't want to upset him. She knew how much he hates having to deal with the press. She just hoped that things would calm down. She wasn't sure how they were going to go to church on Sunday.
While Gran was going through things, Elizabeth came upstairs.
"Did you have a nice sleep?" Gran asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I assume that the guys are all gone to work with the horses?"
"Yes." Gran said. "They were out of the house by six thirty. I am glad you got some sleep."
"Me too," Elizabeth said. "I didn't realize how tired I was. I slept pretty good last night in Toronto as well."
"It must mean you are finally comfortable." Gran said. "Or your body had just reached a point of exhaustion. I am hoping that it is the first."
"Me too." Elizabeth said. "I told you all I feel comfortable with everyone, but I think it has finally settled in my brain as well."
"Good." Gran said. "What did you want for breakfast? The guys had eggs and hashbrowns."
"I think I will just have some fruit salad and toast." Elizabeth said. "Please don't get up, I can get it myself."
"Okay." Gran said. "I have Abigail getting quite a bit of fresh fruit and veggies today. I have also called in and added to the Primal order. Abigail said she was going to be here sometime after lunch, so I am not worried."
"There is still plenty for lunch." Elizabeth said. "If not, we can improvise."
"That was what I was thinking." Gran said. "I figured sandwiches, chips, fruit and veggies for lunch. We can make a macaroni salad or potato salad if we need."
"I think both would be great." Elizabeth said. "If we do it right, we will have enough for lunch and supper."
"Will you help me make those this morning?" Gran asked.
"Sure." Elizabeth said. "I was going to ask if you needed help."
"Thank you." Gran said. "I was thinking about wanting to go into town, but with security right now, it is not worth the hassle. I just hope that things are better so we can go to Church on Sunday."
"Me too." Elizabeth said. "I know that Chris talked to Jack about making a statement to the press, but he didn't seem open to the idea."
"I can see that." Gran said. "I was hoping that it got better, not that I mind staying on the farm, but it is nice to be able to leave when I want."
"I am sorry." Elizabeth said.
"You have nothing to be sorry about." Gran said.
"If Jack hadn't brought me here, there wouldn't be a problem." Elizabeth said.
"And if JP hadn't brought you here, where would you be?" Gran asked.
Elizabeth looked at Gran and nodded.
"You are right." Elizabeth said. "I am grateful that Jack and Doug stepped in to help me and that Jack listened when I called and asked for help."
"Good." Gran said. "Then I don't want to hear anything again about the mess with the press being your fault."
"Yes, ma'am." Elizabeth said.
After Elizabeth ate, she helped Gran finish up the last of the baking. They also got a couple loads of towels and things going. They were just finishing cleaning up when Gran got that call that the helicopter was fifteen minutes out.
After Lee and Frank helped to feed and take care of the horses, they watched as the other guys did some flat work with Bandit, Honey, Ghost, Aphrodite and Athena. After they were done with the flat work, Lee and Frank helped to brush the horses down so that Jack and Doug could bring Bubbles and Squeak into the round pens. They worked with them on lunge lines for a bit before saddling them. Jack was able to get on Bubbles quite easily. Squeak gave Doug a bit more trouble, but he was eventually able to ride him in the round pen. They then switched. The guys weren't sure if Squeak had calmed down or if it was just Jack, but there were no problems. Both guys knew that the horses were going to need some work with Marco and Andy before they were ready for the girls to ride. They didn't try to saddle Wex, they would do that later. They wanted to get a workout in before Doug's family came up.
By the time that the guys headed to the house, Jack had gotten the notification that the helicopter had taken off. Jack was glad that Rosie was coming for Elizabeth and hoped that everything worked out. For a moment, Jack had a bad feeling, but shook it off. He chalked it up to traveling and all that was going on with the press. The guys got a nice workout in. Frank even worked out with them. Jack liked having Frank there and was glad that he was going to be overseeing everything at the new property. Jack was also glad that Frank was going to be back for the show.
Jack and Doug looked to Frank like an older brother, even though he was technically old enough to be their dad. Frank didn't seem like he was in his mid-thirties and neither Jack or Doug minded him being included. Jack was glad that it seemed like Frank and Nathan were getting along as well. Jack had hoped that Frank would be a positive influence in Nathan's life. From what little that Nathan had shared, he hadn't had the easiest time growing up and didn't have that many people who he could look up to. Jack was glad that Devin had recommended Nathan to his father and that his father had agreed to bring him on, even with everything that happened. Jack was happy that Doug and Lee were willing to make Nathan a fourth musketeer and he was hoping that they would be as welcoming to Frank. Jack knew that their group would grow as they met their future wives and had kids, but he hoped that they always were close.
Frank noticed that Jack was staring off and looked to be in his own head.
"Hey." Frank said, taking a seat next to Jack.
"Hey." Jack said.
"You okay?" Frank asked.
"Yeah." Jack said. "Just thinking."
"As long as you are sure." Frank said.
"Yes." Jack said. "We should shower and get ready, the helicopter will be here soon and I have a feeling that we will have a busy afternoon."
"Okay." Frank said.
They guys went to shower and change. When they were ready, they headed up to help get lunch ready and wait for their guests.