When Life Takes A Turn
Chapter 1
What Shall I Do
As Jack approaches the church doors he hears voices. He stops, looks in, and sees Charles down on one knee. He steps out of the eyesight of Elizabeth and Charles. He pats his pocket where the ring was that he had planned to propose to Elizabeth. He leans his head back against the building closes his eyes and whispers, why now Lord. Why can't he leave us alone? He steps down the stairs two at a time and heads back to the jail. He changes his suit back into his uniform. He pats Rip's head and says, it won't work boy and leaves. He gets on Sargent and rides off.
Elizabeth leaves the schoolhouse and heads to the cafe to talk to Abigail. She looks over at the stagecoach and sees Charles climbing in. He doesn't even look back. She opens the back door to the cafe and asks, have you seen Jack today, Abigail? He was supposed to meet me at the school and go for a ride after school. He never showed up. Abigail replies, maybe something came up. You would think that he would've said something, Elizabeth says.
While riding Jack is thinking out loud. Maybe she prefers that life more than she lets on but why not just tell me instead of leading me on? She said she loved me. I've been completely honest with her. I've loved her for so long. I know it took me a long time to tell her but surely she knows my heart. Maybe it's me that doesn't know her heart. I know her family will never accept me. Her father has already said that that life is what she deserves. I can't give her that life. Maybe I just bow out now and let her have the life she deserves. I love her so much but I have to let her go. It's going to be hard but with time I'll be able to move on without her.
The next morning Ned came into the jail and handed Jack a telegram. It's marked urgent Jack so I brought it right over and handed it to him. Jack says thank you and takes it. Ned looks at him and says, Jack if you don't mind me saying you look awfully tired. Jack shakes his head and says, I'm fine Ned. Ned leaves and Jack opens the telegram.
To: Constable Jack Thornton
Hope Valley
From: NWMP Headquarters
Report to Calgary immediately..Stop..will expect you in 2 days..Stop..temporary posting is unknown at this time..Stop.
Signed
Dep. Com. Delaney
He doesn't have time to talk to Elizabeth now because he had to pack. He packs and steps out of the jail and headed to the livery to saddle Sargent. He mounts and sees Bill coming out of the saloon. Bill, I've been called to Calgary temporarily. Will you take care of things here until I get back? Sure Jack. Be careful. Thanks Bill. Elizabeth steps off the step of the cafe just then and sees Jack. She calls him and runs up to him just as Bill turns to leave. Jack are you going somewhere? For how long? Jack clears his throat and says, Elizabeth, I saw Charles propose to you yesterday. That is the life you deserve. Your family will never except me . They will continue to come between us, so for those reasons I'm bowing out and when I get back we will no long be a couple. I wish you nothing but happiness. Goodbye Elizabeth. He rides off leaving Elizabeth standing in the street shocked and with tears falling down her cheeks.
She turns and runs back into the cafe and up the stairs to her room. Abigail runs after her. Abigail knocks on Elizabeth's door. Elizabeth didn't answer so Abigail opens the door slowly. She sees Elizabeth laying across her bed crying. Abigail rushes to her side and asks, Elizabeth what's wrong? Elizabeth doesn't say anything for a while so Abigail just rubs her back until Elizabeth is ready to talk. Eventually Elizabeth sits up and tells Abigail everything from Charles proposal to what Jack said. Abigail hugs her tight and rocks her back and forth while she thought what she could say to her. Elizabeth when did Jack leave? Just a while ago before I came back. Abigail what am I going to do? I can't see him every day and not be with him. I love him to much. I wanted a life with him. Abigail why didn't he let me explain about Charles? He knows I don't want to marry Charles. I don't even know what prompted him to come all this way to propose after I told him in Hamilton that I didn't love him except as a brother. Elizabeth this will all straighten out when Jack gets back. No Abigail, you should've seen the look on his face and in his eyes. He wants nothing to do with me. Abigail asks, do you want something to eat before you go to bed? No, I'm not hungry. I'm just going to turn in. I'll figure it out tomorrow. Good night Elizabeth. Good night Abigail.
The next morning Elizabeth was just as upset as she was the night before. She washes her face and sets down at her desk and pores out her soul in her journal. As she sits there looking out her window, she stares down at the jail. As she thinks about what she is going to do. She thinks, there is a week left of school. I'll finish and then go from there. She dresses for the day and goes downstairs to get a cup of coffee and blueberry scone. She eats and and doesn't say anything to Abigail. Abigail says a private prayer for both her friends. Elizabeth picks up her basket and heads to school. She finished out the week and tells her students to have a great summer. They all hug her and leaves. She goes back to the cafe and talks to Abigail. She walks in and sits down as Abigail brings a cup of tea and sits down with her. Abigail knew that she had made a decision but waited until she was ready to tell her. Elizabeth takes a deep breath and says, I've made a decision as to what I'm going to do. I'm leaving Hope Valley. Oh Elizabeth! No, Abigail says. Yes Abigail I am. I can't be here and see him every where. I need to go. I've contacted the school board and told them that I won't be here next term. I've asked them to send my next teaching job to my Aunt in Vancouver. Abigail I'll ask you not to reveal that to anyone. Everyone will just think I've went home but I'm not going home so my parents can say I told you so. When will you leave, Abigail asked? Tomorrow on the ten o'clock stage. I've already packed so I'll just get Bill to help bring down my two trunks.
The next day Bill had agreed to bring her trunks down and out to the stagecoach platform. All the children came by to say goodbye. She hugged them all and told them she loved each and everyone of them. They asked if she was coming back and she sat down on the bench and motioned for them to come to her.
They gathered around her and she said, children I've taken a new teaching job far away so I want you to know that it has been a pleasure to teach each and everyone of you. I love you all and will miss you all so very much. I leave you all with a very heavy heart but I have to go. I want you all to promise me that you will be good for your new teacher. Promise? They were all crying but promised and said they would miss her. They asked if they wrote letters would she write back? When I find my new address I'll write. Goodbye children! With that the children stepped back. Bill came and hugged her and whispered in her ear, I know what happened and I'm sure he will come to his senses in time. She whispered back, look out for him for me please. I love him so but can't be here. He nods and steps back. Abigail is the last to say goodbye. She grabs her and holds her so tight that Elizabeth almost couldn't breathe. Abigail says, please keep in touch. Let me know how you are doing? I will , Elizabeth says. She steps in and sits down. Bill closes the door and the driver smacks the reins and the stagecoach leaves.
Everyone waits until the stage is out of site. They go their separate ways. Bill follows Abigail back to the cafe. They sit down at the kitchen table. Bill asks, how are we going to tell Jack? Abigail says, just exactly what's happened. We can't hide it from him. He told her that their courtship was off. Abigail, you know this isn't the first time this has happened. This too will pass. I don't think so Bill. He's hurt her bad enough that she's left. She didn't leave anything in her room. She packed the picture he drew and put it back in the jail along with a letter goodbye. Bill I'm certain she's done too. Bill gets up and says, I'm going for a ride. I have to think. Abigail gets up and turns the open sign around to closed because she didn't want to deal with everyone's questions. She locks the front door and turns to go back to the kitchen. She locks the back door to. She fixed a cup of tea and took a plate of scones up to her room. She needed to pray.
The stage pulls up to the platform in Cape Fullerton. Elizabeth steps out of the stage and goes and buys her train fare to Vancouver. The stage driver and a porter get her trunks down and carries them to the train platform. Elizabeth asks how when would the train to Vancouver be leaving? They informed her that it would be leaving in an hour. She said thank you and walked across the street to the restaurant to grab a bite to eat and a cup of tea. She sat watching out the window seeing all the hustle and bustle going on outside. She thought back to her little town she just left. So small that everyone knew everyone. She loved her life there but now she had to start over again in the little town that she would hopefully be going to. She check her watch pin and realized she needed to pay for her meal and get to the train. She had paid for a private room on the train because she didn't want to be around anyone right now especially for 3 days. She had sent a letter to her Aunt to let her know she was coming and would explain when she arrived.
4 days later she arrived in Vancouver. Uncle Wynn met her at the train station. They paid porter to load her trunks on his car. Elizabeth and Wynn hugged for a few minutes. She let a few tears fall but quickly got them under control. He opened her car door and she slid in. It didn't take but about 10 minutes to get to his house. One of the hand's brought her trunks up to her room while she hugged her Aunt.
Elizabeth and her Aunt sat down on the sofa while Wynn got all of them a cup of tea and a plate of cookies thar Aunt Elizabeth had baked that morning just for when she arrived. Elizabeth sat with her hands in her lap fiddling with the handkerchief. Tears pouring down her cheeks. Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Wynn sat quietly and waited for her to tell them what happened. After a few minutes she explained what had happened. Aunt Elizabeth moved over to rap her arm around her shoulders while Elizabeth finished explaining. Elizabeth wiped her eyes and took a sip of her tea. Aunt Elizabeth didn't want to upset her anymore but she had always been very outspoken. Elizabeth, did you not make it clear to Charles that you were in love with Jack? Aunt Elizabeth, I tried honest I did. I told him that I only love him as a brother nothing else. I told him that I wanted to be with Jack. But did you tell him that you were in love with Jack? Elizabeth thought for a moment, no I guess I didn't, Elizabeth says. Aunt Elizabeth are you saying that I led Charles to believe that he had a chance? What I'm saying is that you left room for suggestions. You knew you lived Jack and Jack loved you. Oh Aunt Elizabeth I have blown all chance for Jack and I. Do I have any mail or telegram yet, Elizabeth asked? I sent a telegram to the school board that I was looking for a job elsewhere and to send all correspondence here. No dear not yet her Aunt says.
A few days later Elizabeth was walking the grounds at her Aunt and Uncle's house. She carried her Bible and journal with her. She poured her heart and soul out to God and in her journal. She couldn't understand how she had not made it understood to Charles that she wasn't interested in a life with him. She knew it had to have been her father that put him up to coming to Hope Valley. Why can't father let me live my life the way I want to. Let me make decisions for myself. I'm an adult and know what I want out of life but then the thought of Jack came to mind. Then she said out loud, except I can't have Jack. Maybe the school board will send me to a very small town like Hope Valley. That way I won't have to see Mounties everywhere. While there Aunt Elizabeth had finished teaching her how to cook and bake. She could start the fire in the stove and bank the fire at night. She was very proud of herself. She knew she could take care of herself anywhere she went.
After 2 months she received her letter from the school board. She opened it and read it out loud to her Aunt and Uncle.
Dear Miss Elizabeth Thatcher,
We have an opening up in Pine Springs school. School starts September 2, 1911. Please arrive 2 weeks early. Housing is available. Please find train tickets enclosed.
Sincerely
Mr. Higgins
Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Wynn look at one another and laugh. Elizabeth says, what's so funny? After they get their laughter under control her Aunt says, Elizabeth dear that was my first teaching job and where I met Wynn. His family live there. So I think we would like to travel there with you. We will upgrade you tickets to a compartment. Aunt Elizabeth turns to Wynn and asks, do you think you can take time off? Say 2 weeks? Dear I will ask, Wynn says. Elizabeth had 2 weeks to get everything together to leave. Everything was still packed except for a few dresses and under garments. She needed to get a few books, pencils, paper, slates, chalk, colored paper, workbooks. After a week they were ready. Wynn had gotten 2 weeks off but had to go a week early. So they left a week early. That way Elizabeth would only be there a week by herself. Uncle Wynn and Aunt Elizabeth would take her around and introduce her to the families that still lived there that they knew. They would introduce her to his family, a brother and his wife and children.