Chapter 272 – Talking to Emily
Emily grabbed her phone and Gran grabbed the phone out her hand.
"No!" Gran said, sharply. "We have rules around here and one of them is that we don't talk about JP and Elizabeth or their relationship. Didn't you notice the extra security around here?"
"Yeah." Emily said. "I was going to ask you about that. Good thing I had my license and old Coal Creek badge."
"I will explain things." Gran said. "But I need to finish things in the kitchen."
Gran put Emily's phone her apron pocket and pointed to the seat at the counter while she went back to to her cookie dough.
"So who is all here?" Emily said, looking around.
Trish looked at Gran who nodded for her to take the lead. Gran wanted to observe and she could do that better, if someone else asked the questions. Trish understood.
"I don't know if you remember me." Trish said. "I am Doug's mother, Patrica Burke."
"I thought that was you." Emily said.
"So, Jack, Doug and Lee are in the boys room." Trish said. "With them are their friends, Nathan and Frank. Your brother, Father Mark is in there as well. My twins are in the other room down there and Elizabeth is in Laura's room. I am upstairs and my husband James will be joining us tomorrow. Jack's other grandfather has his stuff in the small master upstairs. He will be back tomorrow or early Friday. From what he said, he will be back and forth between here and Albany for the races, so until he says otherwise, that room is his. The girls and I are staying until toward the end of August when the older kids head back to the city for school. The other room is spoken for as well.
"Who is all at your parents house?" Gran asked. "We were never told who was coming home."
"Well." Emily said. "Mom and Dad. David, Maria and the kids. Dawn, Dean and the girls. Then there is another couple that is friends with David and his wife and daughter. Is there room at Uncle Conrad's house? Why is everyone coming home anyway? I mean yeah, there is a show, but Mom and Dad haven't been to shows since before Laura …."
"I doubt it." Gran said. "It sounded like they had a houseful as well. They were going to be back for the show this weekend and then the races start next weekend. They have at least one jockey staying at the house. It also sounded like they have a few friends from Kentucky up for a couple of weeks and maybe a couple from Florida as well. With your parents and our blessing, JP has named the show in honor of your sister. It is going to be annual show here at Coal Creek. They have put in a lot of work in a very short amount of time to have a full show over three days with all seven levels."
Emily just looked at Jack who along with Father Mark, had quietly joined the group.
"Don't look at me like that." Jack said. "I spoke to your parents before I did it. Gran and Grandpa are fine with it. My friends have worked hard to put this show together. We have a vendor show, a motorcycle display from a group of Nathan's friends. We have food trucks and bounce houses for the little kids. This has all been put together in just over three weeks."
"Why do a show if there is a security concern?" Emily asked.
"I asked that question." Father Mark said. "But Jack, explained that the show was a way to increase business and get the farms name out there. They have an extensive security plan and Nathan's friends are going to help with security."
"Who is Nathan?" Emily asked.
"A friend of mine." Jack said. "He is jumping with Doug and I this summer. He is about your age and does a lot around here."
"How?" Emily said.
"He helps with the horses." Jack said, with a grin. "Among other things."
Jack didn't exactly want to tell Emily that Nathan was security. She sometimes didn't know when to keep her mouth shut."
"Where are Tim and Melissa?" Emily asked. "No one said anything about them when I was at Mom and Dad's house."
"Tim is in Colorado." Abigail said. "He was taking summer classes. Melissa stayed in Texas to work and I think she is taking some classes as well."
"Oh." Emily said.
Gran immediately picked up on Emily's tone.
"We aren't being mean." Gran said. "But we have barely heard two words from you in the last year and half. Lots of things have changed around here. JP is back to jumping and you know he has always had his friends here when he was jumping. The fact that his friend group has gotten bigger is really the only major thing. I mean there are changes with the business, but that is none of your business."
"I guess." Emily said. "So why can't I tell my friends about JP? I know that the last time that we were home, several of them thought he was cute."
"Seriously?" Father Mark said. "Have you been living under a rock? I know for a fact that the story about Jack and Elizabeth a couple weeks ago, ran in Southern California, because Rose told me so. She called to ask some questions."
Emily just shrugged her shoulders, so Father Mark knew he had to ask more questions to get to the bottom of things. Something was going on with Emily and he needed to figure out what it was.
"To answer your question about security, it is a long story." Elizabeth said. "But a short version is that my father was pushing a slightly older guy on me and he doesn't understand the word no. He has actively tried to kidnap me and threatened my life. Jack and I travel with full time security any time we leave the ranch. I have cut my parents out of my life because they can't accept my choices. Jack has also done the same thing with his parents because they can't accept his choices. We both have made the choice to only have people that support us around us. Your grandparents have chosen to stand with Jack and I.
Other stuff happened, but I am not going to get into it right now. All you need to know is that we don't talk to the media and we are keeping the engagement quiet for the time being. The people we want to know have been told, so keep your mouth shut. There is a social media ban for the most part. We are very careful what we post and even then, all of our accounts are tightly controlled. There have been measures put in place to keep both Jack and I safe, and by extension those around us. So it would be great if you would follow the rules, because those that don't, aren't around here long."
"You had better follow the rules." Father Mark said, giving Emily a sharp look.
"JP!" Emily said. "I guess congratulations are in order."
"Thank you." Jack said. "But I have told you, please call me Jack."
Jack walked over and wrapped his arm around Elizabeth's waist, kissing her cheek.
"Feeling better?" Elizabeth asked.
"Much." Jack said. "How were you this afternoon?"
"Good." Elizabeth said. "We got a lot done."
"I see that." Jack said.
"So what are you doing here?" Father Mark asked, looking at his sister.
Emily shrugged her shoulders. But it was the look on her face that concerned Father Mark. He loved his sister, but she could be trouble from time to time. She had always been a bit more of a free spirit and it had gotten her into trouble from time to time growing up.
"Emily Louise." Father Mark said. "What is going on? I talked to Mom and Dad yesterday before they left Montana and they didn't say anything about you coming this weekend. They said David and Maria were coming and maybe Dawn. Nothing about you."
"They didn't know." Emily said. "I have been driving for days. I was going to crash at Mom and Dad's while I figured things out."
"So I repeat." Father Mark said. "What are you doing here? We have a lot going, including a full show this weekend. Races starting next weekend. Jack and his friends have shows the following three weekends and then we have a party planned for the middle of August to celebrate Jack before he goes back to school. So we have a lot going on. I am on leave for the month, which is why I am staying here."
"Oh." Emily said. "I missed New York, so I left Rose and Michael in Southern California and drove home."
Father Mark just looked at his little sister. He knew that something happened, but he wasn't sure what.
Elizabeth and Jack were whispering back and forth while Father Mark questioned Emily. Gran walked over and looked at the two of them.
"What are you two whispering about?" Gran asked.
Elizabeth looked at Jack and then at Gran.
"If she doesn't mind sleeping on the air mattress." Elizabeth said. "I don't mind sharing. I will just have to put a few things away. My journals are out and I want them put away. I would also need to grab clean towels for the bathroom."
"Are you sure?" Gran asked.
"She needs a place to stay." Elizabeth said. "As long as she understands that we are busy and doesn't mess with my stuff. She can't get into the safe can she?"
"No." Jack said. "She would need the code, but we can change the code if you are worried."
"Can we please?" Elizabeth asked. "I really don't want anyone to see my journals and I also have some papers I took from home in there."
"Then we will do that." Jack said. "But your thumbprint will get you into all the safes, except the one in Gran's bedroom right now. Even I don't have access to that one. We will eventually, but I felt it was better if they have their privacy. I could override it with a master code, but I promised I wouldn't do that."
Elizabeth smiled at Jack.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I know that was putting a lot of trust in me."
"I trust you and love you." Jack said.
"Yes, thank you for being so generous." Gran said.
Gran then turned to Emily.
"Emily." Gran said. "Elizabeth has agreed to let you stay in her room. You will be on the air mattress. I don't want to hear you complaining about anything. You can bring in just what you need and the rest can be put in the garage. After the show and people start to leave, you can go back to your parents. Just so we are clear. There are rules around here and they including not talking about JP and Elizabeth to people outside of this house without permission. You will also be expected to help around here. Elizabeth and all of JP's friends have been helping. They are either helping with the horses in the house. If you can't follow the rules, you won't be here. I have made it very clear to everyone that there will not be any more discord in my house this summer. So if you can't follow the rules you will be kicked out."
"Seriously?" Emily said.
"Yes." Jack said. "This may be Gran's house, but I own Coal Creek, property and business. I have put my foot down and I will not be disrespected and rules will be followed. The major rules are being civil to everyone and not talking about Elizabeth and I. That includes posting anything on social media about us or any of my friends. Yes, there are pictures and videos of Doug, Nathan and I from the jumping competitions, but that is different. We have not authorized any additional pictures and if I find them, I will pursue legal action. This is your one and only warning."
Emily looked at Jack, then Gran and Father Mark. She saw the latter two both nodding.
"Fine." Emily said. "I don't see what the big deal is."
"The big deal is that we have faced real threats." Jack said. "We have worked really hard to keep everyone safe and if you can't understand that, then you don't need to be here."
"He is right." Gran said. "We have stepped up security because there have been real threats and real danger not only to JP and Elizabeth, but to Doug as well. We don't go many places because it is too hard right now. Even the show is going to be tightly controlled. So can you follow the rules, because there will be no second chances."
"Yes." Emily said.
Jack and Elizabeth headed downstairs to change the code on the safe and Father Mark went with them. Emily grabbed her two bags that she had set down and took them downstairs. She wasn't happy, but she didn't have any other choice. She just didn't understand what the big fuss was, but she knew that she wasn't going to be stuck on the ranch all the time. She came home to have more freedom, not less and she was looking to have some fun. She had her plan and she was going to do it. Father Mark and Emily headed back upstairs and Jack and Elizabeth stopped in the sitting room for a moment.
While the others were downstairs, Doug, Frank and Nathan came back inside.
"Whose car is that outside?" Nathan asked.
"Father Mark's sister, Emily showed up." Gran said. "It is a full house over at her parents, so she came here, thinking she could stay in Laura's room. Elizabeth has agreed to share and Jack has laid down the rules, so we are just going to go with it right now and see how things go."
"Okay." Nathan said. "This would be the youngest of the three out in California right?"
"Yes." Gran said. "She is about your age. She just turned twenty-five in February."
Nathan nodded. He wondered if this was the right move, but he knew that it was Jack and Elizabeth's call and as long as they didn't have a problem and Gran seemed okay with it, he was going to keep is mouth shut.
"How are things out on the ranch?" Trish asked.
"Busy." Frank said. "We were able to get all the good poles, fences and standards over to the arena. We will have to sort them and make sure they are all cleaned tomorrow, but they are there. The practice poles are still down in the sand ring for the girls to use."
"That is good." Trish said.
"There are a lot of people moving about the ranch." Nathan said. "But they seem to be known by the staff and/or security so I am trying not to worry."
"What are you talking about?" Gran asked.
"There were about two dozen jockey and owners over at the arena." Frank said. "The were having some sort of meeting and then some were going to leave and others would be heading over to the track with Manny. James seemed to know about what was going on and knew many of the people down there."
"Not surprising with the races starting next week." Gran said. "As it gets closer to the races, we have more people here, jockey, owners, other trainers and assistant trainers. They don't come up here unless personally invited and even that is rare. I doubt that James will do it this year without speaking to everyone first."
"Okay." Nathan said. "This is still all so new to me."
"We understand that." Gran said.
Just at that moment, Emily and Father Mark came upstairs. When Nathan saw Emily he froze, and his mouth hung open. The moment that Nathan saw her, he was gobsmacked! She was tall (about five eleven) and had the most gorgeous honey colored hair with lots of curls. She had eyes the color of sapphires and her smile lit up a room.
Both Frank and Father Mark noticed Nathan's reaction to Emily, while Gran noticed Emily's reaction. Emily had stopped and looked at the tall man standing next to her and her eyes lit up and a smile came to her face. Gran knew she was going to have to go over the rules with everyone again. The last thing that she needed was another unmarried couple in the house.