Chapter 253 – Wynn Updates Becky
Sunday dawned cool and overcast with the threat of rain. Jacobs came out and got Jack so he could go to services. It had been the first time since he had been injured and he was looking forward to it. He also knew that he was probably going to be stopped by a lot of people to talk, so he gave Doug and Dee a heads up and they said they would help to keep it to a minimum.
To everyone's surprise, Pastor Frank announced that he wasn't going to hold services the following weekend as he was accompanying Abigail and the children to Union City for Becky to compete in the science fair and didn't want to rush travel or accidentally get caught by weather and not make it back. He looked at Cat Montgomery and she nodded, so he invited people to gather for prayer and some time of singing lead by Cat Montgomery the following weekend.
As they sat in church, many of the men, including Jack and Adam Miller realized that there wasn't going to continue to be room for everyone soon. People were standing along the sides and in the back as it was. Jack was already going over plans in his head as they sang the last song. It wasn't long after Pastor Frank dismissed them, that Adam Miller approached Jack.
"I think we need to expand the building." Adam said.
"I agree." Jack said. "I still can't do a lot, but if you want to draw up some plans we can start to raise some of the money. We will be able to reuse the windows as they are. I think we only go out one side for now and whatever side you expand, add more windows to allow for more light."
"I agree." Adam said. "I was also thinking about the folding doors that I saw in Union City. I was wondering if we could do something like that and be able to close off the side if needed for school, but I have a feeling that it will be needed before long."
"I like the idea of the folding doors." Jack said. "I saw something like that used in Fort Garry, but I have no idea how to do it."
"I could send off for a book." Adam said. "I have been ordering lots of books on woodworking and building."
"Do that." Jack said. "I just don't think we are going to be able to do anything until school gets out. The children have been interrupted enough and I don't want to have to work around school and then something happens."
"No." Adam said. "I agree. I also think that this is going to be an evening and weekend project as I am busy most every day with overseeing the new houses."
"I think if you draw up the plans." Jack said. "We can get others to help, but I also agree that it is going to be a weekend and evening project. Let's start to raise the money and you figure out what we will need for lumber. Then you and I can go talk to Lee."
"Sounds like a plan." Adam said. "I will spread the word that we are looking for donations to expand the schoolhouse and church."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"It is good to see you up and about." Adam said. "Congratulations on the little one. Laurel and I are happy for you. The girls are worried that Elizabeth won't come back and teach, but we explained that she will do everything she can to do that, but you weren't going anywhere."
"Thank you." Jack said. "You are right. Just keep telling them that."
Adam walked away and a few other people came and greeted Jack as he sat there. Doug stood a little ways away keeping an eye on Jack. Even though the plan was for him to walk to the cafe for lunch, he wasn't going to let Jack push it. Elizabeth had gone off to talk to some of the ladies and they all wanted to ask questions about the baby and it got to the point that Elizabeth just had to excuse herself, saying she needed to check on Jack. She went over to him and took a seat. He immediately put his hand on her hand that was resting on her baby bump.
"I think my wife is telling me it is time to go." Jack said.
"I understand." Ned said. "I am glad to see you up and around. I know that you have been in the office this week, but I haven't seen you."
"Hopefully it won't be long and I will be back to at least doing walking rounds in town." Jack said.
Ned walked away and Jack turned to Elizabeth.
"Are you ready to go?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I am sick of answering the same question a thousand times."
"Go to the cafe." Doug said. "The rest of us won't be far behind. Abigail is closed except for us and the cadets. She has a sign up that she will be closed on Sundays for now."
"I know that it would be great business for her to be open after services." Jack said. "But I understand. She needs time to catch up as well."
"I think it is temporary." Elizabeth said. "At least until she gets more into a routine and can hire someone else other than Ann."
"I understand." Jack said.
Jack and Elizabeth stood and started to make their way out of the schoolhouse, but not before being stopped by a few more people. They made their way to the cafe, went to the back door and knocked. Becky opened the door and let them.
"Nice to see you up and about." Jack said.
"I could say the same thing." Becky said. "I am trying to walk more, but still get tired easily and can't walk far."
Then how about we both sit down. It was a lot for me to walk over from the church. Jack and Becky went to the table to sit and talk. Cody was there working on his homework that he had put off. Elizabeth washed her hands and started helping Abigail while they waited for the others to come. That was when Elizabeth noticed that Abigail had a different ring on her finger.
"That is new." Elizabeth said, pointing to the ring.
"Frank proposed last night." Abigail said.
Elizabeth squealed.
"But we aren't sharing just yet." Abigail said. "The kids know. We just want some time to figure out what we want."
"What was that?" Jack asked, looking between the two women.
Elizabeth looked at Abigail and she nodded.
"Frank proposed to Abigail last night." Elizabeth said.
"Congratulations." Jack said. "I take it you aren't broadcasting it."
"No." Abigail said. "We just need some time. It is so new. I mean you kept it quiet for a month. I think we are entitled to a few days."
"I won't say anything." Jack said.
He smiled at Becky and winked. He could tell that the girl was happy that she was going to be getting a mom and a dad. Becky just giggled at Jack and the face he made. Jack honestly couldn't be happier for his two friends. They both deserved to find happiness. Jack was also happy that it appeared that Frank had made plans to stick around. He knew that the man had struggled with being accepted. He had shared enough of his past that people knew that they knew he had been in prison, but he hadn't shared his past identity. Jack had a few people come to him, including Florence asking questions, but he said he couldn't answer and if Frank didn't want to share then that was on him. What Jack said to everyone that asked, as far as the Mounties were concerned, Frank Hogan had paid for his crimes and they had no problem with him as long as he continued to stay on the right side of the law. Jack knew that many people, Florence included, were not happy about that answer, but Jack also knew that it wasn't his call to share Frank's past.
It was Becky touching his arm that brought him back to the present.
"You looked lost in thought." Becky said.
Jack shook his head.
"I was just thinking about the past year." Jack said. "A year ago, I had only been in town a few days and now look at us."
"So you knew Miss Abigail a year ago?" Becky asked.
"She was one of the first people that I met." Jack said. "She was also the first to invite me to supper. She and Elizabeth lived in the row house we now live in back then. So that is a reason that I love that little house, even though I am building a bigger one for my growing family. It was the first place that I felt welcome in this town."
"So people weren't as welcoming." Becky asked.
'You need to understand something." Jack said. "People were still dealing with the mine disaster that killed Abigail's husband and son. I don't think a year ago, we had even had the funeral yet or maybe we had. Either way, it was a hard time. The last of the lost men had just been recovered the day that I rode into town. Many people didn't trust me because of the way that the Pinkerton men had treated people in the past."
"Oh." Becky said.
"It is okay." Jack said. "You weren't here. So you can ask questions. We have all come a long way in the last year. I am sure that a year ago, you wouldn't have believed that you would be halfway across the country from where you started and that you would be getting a new mom and dad."
"You are right." Becky said. "There was a time I thought we were going to be stuck in that orphanage forever. I mean I do miss some of the girls, but I love it here."
"Do you want me to see where they ended up?" Jack asked. "Maybe you can write to them and let them know that you are doing okay."
"I would love that." Becky said. "I especially want to know where Vanessa is. She was special to me, since she had the same name as my mother."
"Then I will do my best to find out." Jack said.
"No need." Wynn said, coming over.
Jack hadn't even noticed that Wynn and Elizabeth Rose had come in. As Jack thought about it, it sounded like Jacobs and them were setting up the dining room.
"You know where Vanessa is?" Becky said, looking hopeful.
"Yes, I do." Wynn said. "I was going to share. I just found out yesterday and wanted to confirm the information before I shared it."
"So can I write to her?" Becky asked.
"Yes." Wynn said. "She has been reunited with her brother and they are in the Richmond Hill area back in Ontario. It took some time to find her brother as they had different last names."
"So her brother really is a Mountie." Becky asked.
"Yes he is." Wynn said. "He is Sergeant Christopher Reid. From what I have been able to learn, he and Vanessa shared a mother and it was his stepfather that was the father to Vanessa. He is about fifteen years older and the orphanage wouldn't listen to her about her brother being a Mountie because when they did inquire, they were told there wasn't a Mountie with the last name Lessard. From my understanding, they refused to look any further, even though it would have been easy enough to find out. He had been looking for her since he had learned that his mother and stepfather had died. She had been sent to four different orphanages before she ended up with you. It didn't sound like any of them were too concerned with finding any family the children had.
And Jack before you ask, I have assigned a few Mounties to look into all of them and the orphanages as whole. We are failing these children who have already lost so much. I am not sure how much we are going to be able to change without changing some of the laws, but maybe if they know they are being looked at, it might spur some change from within."
"I am glad you found the girl's brother." Jack said. "So he is able to care for her?"
"Yes." Wynn said. "He has her enrolled in school and he has received a semi-permanent assignment while that happens."
"Thank you for doing that." Becky said. "I knew she was telling the truth and the people at the orphanage were lying to us. I am just glad that they found each other. I couldn't imagine what it would have been like to know I had a brother out there but no one believed me. It was hard enough to be away from Cody, knowing he was safe here while I was in the hospital."
"You are more than welcome." Wynn said.
"Any word on my mother's ring or any of the other personal belongings?" Becky asked.
"As of yet, no." Wynn said. "The Mounties have found slips where it looks like there were things that were pawned off. They are looking into those and if the ring can be found, it will be returned to you. They are still sorting through everything else. There were several locked storerooms that had crates stacked in them, with nothing labeled."
"I have Jeremiah drawing of the ring and what the Bible looked like." Becky said. "It had our family name embossed on it."
"That will help." Wynn said. "I will stay on the Inspector handling the case, but it is going to take some time to sort everything out. Also before you ask, I haven't heard anything back from the authorities in Chicago or anywhere else in the States. There might be stuff for me at headquarters and if there is, I will send that information on to you."
"Thank you." Becky said.
Wynn sat with Jack and Becky while others were helping to get things ready in the kitchen. Both felt they should have been helping, but were told to sit and relax. Joe had come over to join the group and when Jack asked him where Bill was, Joe let them know that he left early that morning and didn't say where he was going. Jack looked at Wynn.
"I don't know." Wynn said. "One of the Superintendents or other Deputy Commissioners might have pulled him into something, but I have no idea what is going on."
"Okay." Jack said. "I love Bill, but there are times I wish he was more open about what he was doing. I don't like him just taking off with so much still going on. I thought when he asked to be sheriff, he would stick around some more."
"You and I both." Wynn said. "But I honestly have the feeling this has to do with something else."
Wynn raised his eyebrows at Jack and made a small motion toward Abigail. Jack nodded.
"Well." Jack said. "Whatever is going on, I am going to have a talk to him when he gets back. He wants to be sheriff, then he needs to let people know when he is leaving and what he is doing. Even if he can't give details, maybe a general location where he will be."
"I think that is reasonable." Wynn said.
Elizabeth Rose came over and sat down with a cup of ginger tea. It was so strong that Jack could smell it.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked. "Do you want someone to go get Faith?"
Elizabeth Rose looked at him and Wynn moved over next to his wife, who had sat across from him.
"I am okay." Elizabeth Rose said. "Just a bit of an upset stomach this morning and it got worse while cooking, so Patty made me some tea."
Wynn leaned over and kissed his wife's forehead. He wanted more than to kiss her, he was also discreetly checking for a fever. When he sat back, she turned and glared at him.
"Winston Nathaniel." Elizabeth Rose said. "I don't have a fever, I am not sick. I will be fine. It is just part of being a woman. I should have eaten something when I first got up."
Wynn ducked his head as his wife scolded him. Becky covered her mouth as she giggled. Even Jack felt bad for Wynn.
"Sorry." Wynn said. "You know I worry about you."
"And I tell you every time that I am fine." Elizabeth Rose said.
Elizabeth Rose took a few sips of her tea and then she turned to Becky.
"You know you are going to have to learn to stare down a man like that." Elizabeth Rose said. "Especially if you want to be an engineer. If a man thinks you can't do something, you need to be strong enough to stand up for yourself and show him that you are more than capable."
"I know." Becky said. "Mama used to tell me that I was going to have to fight for what I wanted in life. That was why I stood up to Mr Landis at the science fair. I have had men look down on me and tell me that I can't do things since I have been younger than Cody. I have always proved them wrong. What they really hate is when I showed them that I was smarter than them."
"I can see that." Jack said.
Becky turned to Jack.
"Do you have a problem with a woman who is smart?" Becky asked.
Jack held up his hands in surrender.
"I have no problem." Jack said. "You met my mother. Besides that, I am married to your teacher. I do, however, have a problem with stubborn women, but I seem to be surrounded by them in this town."
Elizabeth Rose let out a little giggle.
"Better get used to it being married to Beth." She said. "I have a feeling that your children will be stubborn like their parents. Because from what I have seen and heard, you are almost as stubborn as your wife."
