Chapter 264 – The Delaneys Leave

Thursday morning was a flurry of activity. Dee was up early so he made sure he had everything. He was just getting ready to leave as Elizabeth came down.

"Take care of yourself." Dee said, pulling his cousin into a hug.

"You as well." Elizabeth said. "Write to me and let me know what is going on."

"I will." Dee said. "I will also talk to Sophie about coming for Christmas."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "Let me make you breakfast."

"No." Dee said. "I told Dad, I would come in and help get everything over to the stagecoach."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I will let you know when things happen."

"You do that." Dee said.

Dee kissed Elizabeth's cheek and then left the house, heading for town. He didn't want to leave, but he also knew that he needed to. There were things he needed to do to move his life forward. He just hoped that his future had Annie in. He patted his messenger bag as he walked, thinking of the ring that was hidden in there.

Wynn and Elizabeth Rose were up early, but not because they were tired, but other reasons. They had a wonderful night together and wanted one last time together before they were traveling and things got busy. They knew when they got back to Hamilton it was going to be busy and Wynn was going to have to put in some long days. They also agreed that they wanted to continue to find time to be together, but they knew that being back in Hamilton that the demands of their lives will start to chip away at their time again. So that morning, Wynn took the time to really show his wife how much he loved her and was glad that she had come out to stay while he worked.

After they had come together twice, that morning they laid in bed talking until the alarm went off. They got up, washed for the day and dressed. They then made sure they had everything and Wynn started carrying their trunks down to the stagecoach office so they could check out of the saloon hotel. On his second trip, Jacobs joined him and they had everything moved over there in no time. When they had checked out, the trio went over to the cafe for breakfast. The only thing that Wynn still needed to get was his horse.

"Sir." Jacobs said. "What about all the paperwork in the office?"

"You work on it this weekend." Wynn said. "Doug and Jack can help you. On Monday, crate it all up and send it to Hamilton. I have a copy of the questions and I will work on finding other paperwork when I get home. I doubt there will be much you find, but double check everything you haven't been through. I won't be back in the office until the end of next week anyway. I am going to have to stop in Regina and Fort Garry on the way home. Probably spending at least a night in each."

"I will do that." Jacobs said. "But you are going to have to let us know how things turned out. I have spent a lot of time on that case and I would like to know what happens."

"I will do that." Wynn said.

"Enough business." Elizabeth Rose said. "Can we all have a nice breakfast before we leave?"

"Yes, ma'am." Jacobs said. "Sorry."

"Sorry, dear." Wynn said.

While Elizabeth Rose was making their breakfast, Dee came in and joined them. Elizabeth Rose brought four plates over and sat down with her husband and son. Wynn said a prayer and within a few minutes, Cody and Becky had joined them at the table. Ann and Patty insisted that Frank and Abigail also sit and eat.

As soon as he was done eating, Jacobs got up and helped the ladies. He only took a break to help move the bags from the cafe to the stagecoach platform. He then helped carry the Delaneys trunks out. Ann and Patty said their goodbyes inside, because they couldn't take the time to leave because it was busy. Jacobs had the cadets help load the stagecoach while Wynn and Dee went to get their horses.

So that was how the stagecoach was ready to leave at quarter after seven that morning, a full half hour early. Since there were no other riders that they had to wait for, the driver agreed to leave, especially since he had the escort of two Mounties. At the last moment, Frank had decided to ride as well, so borrowed a horse from the livery and it would be brought back on the stagecoach in the next day or so. If all else failed, it would come with them on Sunday when the Hogan family returned to Hope Valley.

As Elizabeth was making breakfast, Doug came back in after having gone for a run. He went to his room and washed up. He came back out just as Jack was coming down the stairs.

"How are you this morning?" Doug asked.

"Not bad." Jack said. "A little stiff, but that has been the norm in the mornings."

"How is the breathing?" Doug asked. "Want to do a steam treatment?"

"Can we see how we do without one today?" Jack said. "I am feeling pretty good, but that might change by the afternoon."

"Then we will play it by ear." Doug said. "The fact you are thinking of going without tells me that you are feeling better."

Jack walked over and gave Elizabeth a kiss before sitting down.

"How was you run?" Elizabeth asked.

"It was good." Doug said. "It is nice running here in the morning. Town was busy when I went through. It looked like the stagecoach was going to be getting an early start."

"Not surprised." Elizabeth said. "Aunt Elizabeth mentioned something about a change in their travel schedule since Uncle Wynn has to stop in Regina and Fort Garry on the way home. I don't know if she is going to get off and stay with him, but I would assume so."

"Oh." Jack said. "If I would have known he was stopping in Fort Garry, I would have sent word to them."

"I don't think he knew until late yesterday afternoon." Elizabeth said. "But it is fine. I am sure he is following up on the orphanage stuff in Fort Garry. I am not sure what was going on in Regina."

"Well." Doug said. "I hope they have safe travels."

"I do as well." Jack said. "I know that you didn't want to see them leave, but we need to be able to move forward as well. I am getting better and the threat is no longer there. Yes, the cadets will be here until Monday, but that is more to teach them a lesson then anything. By Monday night, the only extra Mounties in town will be Joe and Doug."

"I suppose." Elizabeth said. "It doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye."

"I never said it did." Jack said.

Elizabeth put their breakfast on the table and sat down. Jack took a moment to lean over and put his hand on her bump.

"I love you." Jack said, with a dimpled grin.

"I love you as well." Elizabeth said.

Jack said a prayer and they ate as they talked about the plan for the day. Doug and Jack agreed to walk Elizabeth to school before heading to the office. She smiled. She had missed Jack walking her to work.

"Do you still want a cadet there?" Doug asked. "Especially with Frank gone."

"Maybe." Elizabeth said. "I always felt better knowing that Frank was there most of the day."

"Then I will send one over when we get to town." Doug said. "We might also check on you at lunch."

"Speaking of lunch." Elizabeth said. "Do you want me to pack you both ?"

"You can if you want." Doug said. "But I don't mind eating at the cafe."

Doug was grinning. Elizabeth laughed and shook her head.

"Fine." Elizabeth said. "Have lunch at the cafe while you can."

"I will." Doug said. "Breakfast is good. Honestly, anything is better than the rations I have been used to eating."

"Then you are going to enjoy Buxton." Jack said. "There is a little cafe a couple blocks from the station. Not as good as Abigail, but still good."

"I look forward to trying it." Doug said. "From what Dee said, I will be staying at the station at least to begin with. He said after a couple of months if I wanted to find an apartment, I was free to do that. I would still need to stay at the station if I was on overnight. I will just have to see how things go."

"The station isn't bad." Jack said. "I would stay there and save your money if you can. I mean you are used to sharing anyway."

"I was kind of thinking the same thing." Doug said.

They finished up breakfast and Doug did the dishes while Elizabeth made herself some lunch and gathered her items for school. The trio left together and walked to the schoolhouse. They had plenty of time, so Elizabeth let Jack set the pace.

By eleven o'clock that morning, Abigail, Frank, Becky, Cody and the Delaneys were on board the train heading to Union City.

"So." Frank said. "We have something that we need to share with you."

Wynn and Abigail looked at Frank and Abigail, who were holding hands.

"Neither of us wanted a big fuss." Abigail said.

"So we arranged to get married this evening." Frank said. "We wanted the kids there but not for everyone to make a big deal about things."

"Then we will take the kids to the hotel and get checked in." Elizabeth Rose said. "I imagine you will need to head to get the license and rings."

"Yes." Frank said. "Then we planned on coming back to the hotel and getting all of you. I have arranged with a Pastor I know to meet with him when we are ready and he will marry us. Then we thought maybe supper at the hotel."

"Only if you allow me to pay for supper." Wynn said. "I have a better plan as to where to eat. I will make the arrangements when we get to Union City."

"I don't have a nice dress along." Becky said.

"Yes, you do." Abigail said. "I had Clara alter one of my nicer ones and it is in my trunk. Cody, don't you worry either. I have a nice suit packed for you. It even matches the one Frank has."

"Frank, Abigail." Elizabeth Rose said. "I am going to insist that you allow us to keep the kids tonight and tomorrow. You deserve some time alone."

"Yes." Wynn said. "We have arranged for a large two bedroom suite. I can get an extra room for Dee."

"I agree." Dee said. "You need the time, because when you get back, there won't be much. We aren't scheduled to leave until at least Saturday afternoon and we can put that off until Sunday if you want. We can board a train after seeing you on one back to Buxton."

"Thank you." Frank said. "I didn't want to ask, but thought maybe we could have the kids take the room that I had booked for myself, in case something happened and we didn't get everything arranged this afternoon."

"When we get to Union City." Wynn said. "You take care of what you need and we will make sure things are arranged at the hotel. When you are ready, you come there and we can all get ready and head over together."

"Thank you." Abigail said. "I know some people will be upset, but we thought about having a big party next weekend. We realized with the kids and everything else going on, we just wanted to start our lives together."

"I don't blame you." Elizabeth Rose said. "I was wondering how long you were going to hold out. I know that Patty and Ann thought it would happen before the end of summer."

"Won't they be surprised when we come back on Sunday." Frank said.

"I have a question." Becky said.

"Go ahead." Abigail said.

"I know that you are adopting us." Becky said. "But will Frank also. And what will our names be?"

"We were going to talk to you about that." Frank said. "I would be more then willing to adopt you if that was what you wanted. I have already contacted the person at the courthouse. If you want me to adopt you, we can do it at the same time as Abigail and then your name would be Hogan. If that was not what you wanted. Then your name would be Stanton and we can change it later if you changed your mind."

"Can I keep Hastings?" Becky asked.

"How about just adding Stanton or Hogan?" Wynn said.

"Rebecca Ann Hastings Hogan." She said, trying out the name.

She waited a moment as it sank in.

"I like it." Becky said.

"Then that is what we will do." Frank said. "We can do that paperwork while we get the marriage certificate."

"Cody, what about you?" Abigail asked.

"What are you going to do, Miss Abigail?" Cody asked.

"Frank and I talked about it." Abigail said. "For now, I am going to go with Stanton-Hogan. At least for now and only because I just took over as Mayor and everything is in Stanton. I might just go to Hogan later."

"Cody James Hastings Hogan." Becky said. "I like it."

"As long as you don't call me CJ." Cody said. "I never liked that."

"Then we won't." Frank said. "So is it Hogan for you as well?"

"Yes, Sir." Cody said.

"Good." Wynn said. "I like it, the Hogan family."

"I love the sound of that." Abigail said.

They talked a bit more about what they were going to do with a nice weekend in Union City. Wynn and Elizabeth Rose promised to take the kids sightseeing, if Frank and Abigail wanted time alone. Dee said he was mostly free, but had to check in at the station the next day. Wynn and Elizabeth Rose were so happy for Frank and Abigail. They both deserved happiness after all they had been through and then to get a family on top of it, was even better. Little did anyone know that the Hogan family wasn't done growing.

The group arrived in Union City just after noon that day. As they got off the train, they were met by two young Mounties.

"Welcome Sir." The first Mountie said.

Wynn gave them a salute and then looked around.

"We have both cars waiting for you, Sir." The Mountie said. "We are to make sure you get to the hotel."

"We have a slight change of plans." Wynn said. "My wife and I will be taking the two children traveling with us to the hotel, while their parents take the second car and run some errands. Can you help my son with the luggage? You will probably need to arrange a wagon. We have been traveling for over a month and have a number of trunks."

"Yes, Sir." The second Mountie said.

"The Grand, Sir?" The first asked.

"Yes." Wynn said. "Please meet us there with the luggage."

"Can we take the crate with my project?" Becky asked.

"Of course, dear." Elizabeth Rose said. "I know that it is important."

"Thank you." Becky said.

While Dee and one of the Mounties arranged for the luggage. The other Mountie showed the group to the cars. Frank and Abigail took off in one, while Wynn carefully loaded the crate with Becky's science project into the back seat. He then helped the kids and his wife before getting behind the wheel himself. With a final nod, Wynn was off and the Mountie returned to find his partner and complete his task as it had been assigned.