Chapter 263 – Around Town Wednesday Afternoon (short)
The rest of the town had a quiet day with the biggest thing happening was the arrival of the stagecoach. People stopped and stared when a very stylish woman stepped out. Most people didn't catch the face she made as she looked around, but it wasn't missed by Bill and Joe who had met the stage.
"Is there something I can help you with ma'am." Joe said.
The lady looked him up and down before waving her hand at her trunks.
"You can arrange for those to be delivered." The woman said. "My husband promised me that the house would be set up."
"And your husband is?" Bill asked.
"Thomas Wright." She said.
"Well." Bill said. "His office is at the end of the street and you can talk to Mr Graham in the stagecoach office and arrange for your trunks. The Constable and I have work to do."
Mrs Wright huffed and went to the office. The driver just looked at Bill and Joe.
"I have passengers going out in the morning." He said. "Can I just pull over to the livery and park it there for the night?"
"Go ahead." Bill said. "Constable McGinty can take the mail bag for you."
The driver handed the mailbag over and Joe took it to the mercantile while the driver moved the stagecoach back toward the livery. When Joe returned, Bill looked at him.
"Please saddle both our horses and have them in front of the jail in fifteen minutes." Bill said.
"Yes, Sir." Joe said.
With a quick nod to Bill he took off toward the livery. Bill stood there for a moment until Mr Graham came out. Bill nodded his head and headed to the jail. Fifteen minutes later, Bill rode out of town west and Joe south towards the mill.
… … … …
The Delaneys, Thorntons and Doug had a nice supper. They tried to keep the mood light, but Elizabeth was sad that her family was leaving. She knew they needed to and that they would be back, but she was still sad.
As they sat there after they had eaten, Aunt Elizabeth came over and wrapped her arms around her niece.
"We will be back before you know it." Aunt Elizabeth said. "And when we come back it will be to welcome this little one."
Aunt Elizabeth laid her hand on Elizabeth's baby bump and smiled at her niece.
"Time will go fast." Wynn said. "You have school to finish, a house to furnish and a baby to get ready for. Not to mention new people to meet and friends to enjoy."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I know it will be easier with tracks getting laid closer and hopefully all the way to Hope Valley at some point. I also hope the telephone comes before too long. As much as I like writing letters, I miss being able to pick up the telephone and talk to you."
"You will get those things before you know it." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I hate to leave you, but there is so much we all need to do before that little one comes. We have to go back to Hamilton and work on things there."
"Not only will we see you when the baby comes." Wynn said. "But depending, we might stay and travel back with you for the ceremony in October. Also, we were looking at Christmas here if that is acceptable, especially since the Mountie Ball will be in Union City this year. That hasn't been officially announced, but I thought I would let you know so you can make plans."
"Maybe I can talk to Sophie and Andrew." Aunt Elizabeth said. "If I can convince them to come, we can have a huge family Christmas and celebrate the first Christmas with both babies."
"Think she would actually come?" Elizabeth asked.
"Maybe if you write and ask." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Especially if you assure her there is plenty of room for them and her nurse."
"I will do that." Elizabeth said, with a small smile.
Wynn looked at Doug.
"Before we go." Wynn said. "I wanted to let you know, Doug, how much I appreciate you taking care of Jack. You are to remain here as long as you feel he needs help. Then you can have a week in Union City with your mother before you report to your new post in Buxton. Just keep me updated about your movements. Send a message to Dee and he will let me know."
"I will, Sir." Doug said. "Thank you for everything and allowing me to be here for Jack and also keeping me close."
"More good Mounties in this region is only to my advantage." Wynn said. "I will let you both know right now, that you both along with Joe McGinty will be required to be at the Mountie Ball in December, including the meetings the day before. You will receive those official orders in late October or early November. Just keep that in mind."
"I will, Sir." Doug said. "Thank you again. I will make sure Jack, here, follows all the Nurse Carter's instructions. I figure at least two more weeks before he will really start to feel better, but if it is longer then I will let you know."
"Then at this point." Wynn said. "Let's plan on you staying until the end of the month and then you go to your mother's for a visit. McGinty will be here until Jack is released to full duty, then he will be returning to Benson Hills. Jacobs should be heading there next week, taking the cadets and three tents with them."
"Thank you." Jack said. "Will he be keeping the three Mountie tents?"
"Yes." Dee said. "You will still have five here. One has already been sent to Buxton."
"Thank you." Jack said. "And the five here are where?"
"In the storage shed behind the infirmary." Dee said.
Jack nodded.
"One more thing." Wynn said. "I still might send a new Mountie out here in June for you to train for six months. That would help you and give you a bit of free time to handle things as it gets closer to the time for the baby."
"Thank you, Sir." Jack said.
They talked a little more over tea and dessert of apple cake from the cafe. Before Wynn and Aunt Elizabeth left, they made sure to get their goodbyes in because Elizabeth would be at school when they left and they weren't sure if Jack would be in town yet. When they left, they took everything except Dee's rucksack and messenger bag, which he would bring in the morning.
… … … …
Frank and Abigail had a better evening at the cafe after a trying day. Frank stayed after close to help make sure everything was ready for Ann and Patty. Patty had moved over and was helping make sure Becky and Cody had everything ready to give Frank and Abigail some time alone. Since they were closed and almost ready for morning, Frank took a moment to pull Abigail to himself.
"How are you doing?" Frank asked.
"Much better now." Abigail sighed. "I can't wait until you don't have to leave."
"One more day." Frank said. "So we have to go get the marriage license when we get to Union City. We should be there in time to get it on Thursday. So we have a couple of options. We can get married Thursday night. I know a pastor in Union City and I know he would be willing to do it. Or we can go to the courthouse on Friday either before or after the science fair. I know that Saturday is your birthday, so I would prefer Thursday or Friday. That way your birthday is its own celebration."
"I think Thursday night if we can make it work." Abigail said. "Then I don't have to say goodbye to you tomorrow night and that would make me very happy."
"Then let's plan on that." Frank said. "From what I have gathered, it takes about three to four hours to get to Buxton and then about an hour on the train. So we should be in Union City early tomorrow afternoon. We will have plenty of time to run to the courthouse and then get married. We can let the Delaneys know. We can then all have supper together. I have booked a suite for us and a second room on the same floor. If we get married tomorrow, we can have the suite and the kids can have the second room. Becky is old enough to be in the room with Cody and we won't be far if they were to need us. The Delaneys will also be around."
"That sounds great." Abigail said.
"I don't know if you know." Frank said. "Wynn arranged for us to have a car for the weekend. We will just need to leave it at the Mountie station before we board the train to come back. So it will be easy to run the errands we need. We can even have the Delaneys take the children while we run to get the license and rings."
"I will talk to Elizabeth Rose on the way there." Abigail said. "I think they would be more than willing to help us in any way that they can."
"I am sure they will." Frank said.
Frank cupped Abigail's face and kissed her. He quickly pulled away when he heard footsteps on the stairs.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." Patty said. "I was just bringing the kids' cases down. Both have turned in because they know traveling will be a long day tomorrow. Becky asked if she needed to bring her wheelchair. She said she doesn't use it other than for long periods of time."
"What do you think?" Abigail said.
"I think we leave it." Frank said. "It isn't like we are going to be walking around Union City. We can sit and take breaks if she needs. We can arrange for a chair if she needs it at the science fair."
"I agree." Patty said. "She has been doing very good and only needs it at the end of the day when she has been moving all day. Even that is getting better and it has only been a couple of weeks."
"Then fine." Abigail said. "We will just need to keep an eye on her."
"I am sure you will." Patty said. "Thank you again for letting me stay here."
"Thank you for staying and helping." Abigail said.
"Jacobs and the cadets will be staying until you return." Patty said. "So I will be able to have them help here if needed in the next few days."
"We plan to be back on Sunday." Frank said. "I figured we could take the afternoon train out of Union City which is about one pm. Then the stagecoach from Buxton at about two thirty. So that should put us back here about supper time."
"I will make sure that there is supper in the oven for you when you get here." Patty said.
"Thank you very much." Abigail said.
"I will leave you be." Patty said.
"Thank you." Frank said.
Abigail ducked her head and blushed a little. As Patty went back up the stairs, she looked at the two small cases that Patty had brought down and set near the crate that held Becky's model bridge and calculations. Frank had taken the time to help carefully pack it in a shipping crate so it would be safe on the journey.
"I doubt that the children packed a nice outfit." Abigail said.
"Then add one to your case in the morning for them." Frank said. "I don't care what they wear, the important part is that we are going to be a family."
"I did get a new dress from Dottie." Abigail said. "I hope you like it."
"I will love it." Frank said. "So you don't feel bad about sneaking off and not having a big wedding."
"I just want to be married." Abigail said. "Also we can throw a party next weekend if people want."
"Good point." Frank said. "We aren't the first to sneak off and get married. And I am sure we won't be the last."
Abigail smiled.
"One last kiss." Frank said. "Then I will see you in the morning."
Abigail leaned up and Frank met her for the kiss. They only pulled away when required as their lungs screamed for oxygen.
"Tomorrow." Frank said, huskily. "Tomorrow, I won't have to leave you."
Frank didn't say anything else, but turned and left the cafe while he still had the willpower to do so. Because there was nothing more he wanted then to take Abigail right there, but he knew that in less than twenty-four hours, he wouldn't have to walk away.
… … … …
