Chapter 195 – Nightmare Afternoon part 2

Gran kicked everyone but Trish out of the kitchen once the groceries were put away. She would call people back to help with supper as needed. Abigail went upstairs to make sure that all the beds were made. The guys all took seats around the table. Devin was still pacing back and forth on his phone. Jack knew that they needed to figure out a plan, but he also knew that they needed more information. It wasn't long and Nathan and Frank were back as well. Jack looked at Nathan and knew it wasn't good. Frank and Nathan took a seat at the table. Trish brought over a plate of cookies and the carafes of coffee. Doug jumped up and got the tray of mugs.

"Lee." Trish said. "Please go downstairs and get the younger children."

Lee went to get the little ones. Jack got up and got a second booster chair for Cody. As he was strapping it in, his phone chimed. He finished what he was doing and looked at it.

"Gran." Jack called out.

Everyone stopped speaking and looked at Jack.

"Yes." Gran said. "What is it?"

"John, Peter and Andrew will be here in fifteen minutes." Jack said. "They just took off from Albany. I don't know if Grandpa John is staying the weekend, but don't be surprised. Also, Chris, Rob and Katie are on their way up to the house."

"Thank you for telling me." Gran said. "I think that we are going to need the extra table if everyone is going to be here for supper, but right now it should be okay."

"We will deal with it later." Jack said. "It is only two and I doubt that we will eat before six thirty. What are we eating anyway?"

"Trish and I were just working on that." Gran said. "I had planned on putting pork chops on the grill, but I don't know if I have enough, especially if we were going to do those for a meal later in the week. I have chicken breast as well. I was thinking maybe making a mixture of both and we still do leftovers on Monday."

"Do the chicken breasts if you have enough." Jack said. "We can always order more from Primal. I think chicken will be easier if everyone is going to be here. You can put them in the oven if needed. I know that Primal will be closed on the Fourth, but if we need to do an order before it will be fine."

"Okay." Gran said. "Trish, Abigail and I will work on supper and things. You guys figure things out and I will call for help as needed."

"We will." Jack said.

The kids had come up while Jack and Gran were talking. Lee helped get Cody buckled in next to Doug and Opal buckled in between Becky and himself.

"Missy, Maddie, Becky, Opal and Cody." Trish said. "You can each have a cookie. I have milk or lemonade for you. When you are all done, I expect you to go back downstairs and play nicely. The adults have some things they need to talk about. We will call you if we need anything."

"Yes, Mom." Missy said.

"We will watch the little ones." Maddie said.

Once she had drinks for them, Trish went back to the kitchen. The group was intentionally keeping the conversation light with the little ones at the table. Just as the little ones were finishing, they heard the helicopter. Cody got really excited. Nathan picked up and took him to the window so that he could see the helicopter land. Doug and Lee went out to great John.

After the helicopter took off, Nathan sent Cody downstairs with the others. John greeted everyone and was introduced to Frank and Rosemary. At the moment, John wasn't happy with Rosemary, but he was going to give her a chance because he knew that Elizabeth needed her friends as well.

"Sorry about this Margaret." John said.

"It is okay." Margaret said. "You didn't do it. Are you staying?"

"Probably overnight." John said. "I felt it was better if I was here if JP is going to be making a statement to the press. I also wanted to see for myself that everyone was okay. This is the second close call with the press in just a few days. I don't like it, but we need to do something."

"You know that you are more than welcome to stay anytime." Gran said. "Please take the small master upstairs. Trish is in the large guest room. The other is open as Frank is bunking with the boys downstairs."

"You definitely have a house full." John said.

"I am okay with it." Gran said. "I like having people here where I know that they are safe."

John smiled as he understood what she was saying. John took a seat at the table. Peter sat next to him. Andrew put their bags in the library and then joined the group at the table. But this time Devin took a seat. They were just getting seated when there was a knock at the door. Andrew jumped up to get it. He came back with Rob, Chris and Katie. Katie immediately walked over to Jack and handed him a letter.

"This came certified mail when we were down at the gate." Katie said. "I signed for it for you and promised I would personally deliver it."

"Thank you." Jack said.

Jack looked at the return address and then showed Elizabeth.

"What is it?" John asked.

"It is a response from the Bishop." Jack said.

"Do you want to wait and open it with Elizabeth later?" John asked.

"If we can, Sir." Jack said.

"Then that is what you can do." John said.

Jack folded the letter and slid it in his back pocket.

"Now." John said. "How are we going to address the press and keep everyone safe?"

"I don't know, Sir." Chris said. "I thought your statement to the press last week would have helped, but it has only seemed to make things worse. However, we have a more pressing issue."

"And that would be?" John asked.

"William Thatcher." Chris said. "He is out there and he is not leaving. He has made several statements to the press which are fueling the craze. I know that JP doesn't want to, but I think that the two of you need to go down there and face William Thatcher and his allegations in front of the press."

Jack bristled at the thought. The last thing that he wanted was to face the press. He knew that he would at some point, but with everything else going on, he wasn't sure at the moment.

"We will stand with you if you want." Doug said.

"I think walking out there with both your grandfathers will make a bigger statement." Frank said. "Jack, I know that you don't want to do it, but I think we have all been backed into a corner at this point and it might be the only way out. I understand why you have remained silent, but at some point if you don't put your side out there, people will start to believe the rumors and lies."

"He is right." John said. "As much as I don't want to force you to do this, I think it might be the only way."

"Can I make a suggestion?" Katie said.

"Yes." John said.

"Marcus' people have been able to move the crowd away from the front gate and push them across the road." Katie said. "They were warned that they can't block access. That being said. I think we need to bring William Thatcher up here and you all speak to him as a united front. Then tomorrow morning once we can get more security here, you hold a press conference in the jumping arena. That way we can check the credentials of the press and control who is there. You can make a statement and Jack can stand with you and James. Jack can make a short statement as well and then you can take some questions. You can always refuse to answer the question. I think that this way we can put together what is going to be said and like I said, control who is there."

"I think that is a good idea." John said. "I know that it is not what we wanted to do, but it might be the only way. JP?"

Jack blew out a harsh breath. He then looked at Elizabeth.

"What do you think?" Jack asked. "Can you face your father with us all here? You don't have to say anything, but I think him seeing you and I together will go a long way."

Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned over to Jack. Jack turned and wrapped his arms around her.

"I will be right by your side." Jack whispered. "No one is going to allow him to hurt you. No matter what he says it won't change how I feel about you."

Elizabeth nodded.

"I need to hear you say it." Jack said. "I don't want anyone to think I am forcing this on you. It has to be your decision to bring your father up here."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "But we need some answers first."

Jack nodded. He wasn't sure what Elizabeth was talking about, but he was going to support her in any way that he could. He knew that it wasn't easy to face her father. Jack might have had his own things that he was dealing with, but he was going to be there for Elizabeth. He would figure out a way to deal with the other stuff later.

Elizabeth moved to turn in Jack's arms, so he let her. She leaned forward and gave him a kiss. Jack let it linger for a moment before he pulled back to be respectful of the people around the table. He leaned his head on her forehead.

"I love you." Jack said.

"I love you more." Elizabeth said.

After another quick kiss, both leaned back. Jack patted Elizabeth's back.

"Rosie." Elizabeth said. "I want to know who you told and exactly what you told them. Especially since I told you not to tell anyone you were coming up here."

"I told you." Rosemary said. "I told my mother that I was coming up here to see you and I told my castmate the same thing."

"Who is your castmate?" Andrew asked.

Rosemary glared at Andrew. He didn't even flinch, but just leveled a glare right back.

"I want a name." John said. "I also want to know exactly what you told them. You are partly responsible for this mess and if you don't start speaking, I will have no choice but to have you arrested for endangering my grandson and his friends."

"You can't do that." Rosemary said.

"I am John Thornton, Sr." John said. "Try me."

Rosemary looked around the table and saw everyone nodding.

"Fine." Rosemary huffed. "I told Kristen Anderson. We have been castmates before. She is a good friend. I told her in case anyone needed me over the weekend and to let them know that I might not be at rehearsal on Monday."

Peter, Andrew, Devin and Chris all exchanged a glance that didn't go unnoticed by either John or Jack.

"So this Kristen and your mother are the only two that you told?" Jack asked.

"Yes." Rosemary huffed. "I doubt that either of them would have said anything. Before you ask, my mother and Elizabeth's mother, Grace are friends. But I still don't think that she would say anything."

Rosemary crossed her arms and sat back in her chair. She didn't like the way that the others were speaking to her.

"Still." John said. "It is more than a coincidence that you show up and then Elizabeth's father and the press show up."

"I thought that they said that there was press here before." Rosemary challenged.

"Yes." Chris said. "There have been maybe one or two tabloid reports out there most days. We counted over three dozen members of the press out there, including two tv cameras. So I don't want to hear your excuses."

"A statement to the press was put out by my office last week." John said. "That has kept the reputable reports away until now. Also they have never invaded the airspace of the ranch. So clearly the difference is that you are here."

"Also in that statement put out." Peter said. "We never confirmed that Elizabeth was here or even mentioned her by name. The people that knew that she was here were limited. Her exact location had been semi secure until she asked you to come up here. I understand why she asked you to come up here. Like we have all said, none of us have kept her from contacting anyone. It has been Elizabeth's choice to be here and her choice to who she has talked to."

"That is right." Elizabeth said. "Thank you Peter. I asked Jack if I could come up here with him because I didn't want to be in the city alone with everything going on. He readily agreed to bring me up here and include me in his plans. We have been busy since we got here. When we first got here, we had to deal with a few things and then Jack's father arrived and Jack's little brother was causing trouble. All while dealing with this, Jack and Doug were getting ready to jump in a very important show this past weekend.

Jack, Doug and Nathan will be jumping in a show next weekend and the weekend after that we are putting on a show here. That is why Doug's sisters are here. I have been helping put things together for the show with Lee. I have also been busy helping Gran with cooking and baking.

When the plans were made to bring Doug's sisters up here, it was Jack who encouraged me to reach out to you and invite you up here. If I had known that you would cause so much trouble, I would have never invited you. I thought you were my best friend and that you would be happy that I was happy. But from where I am sitting all I see is that you are jealous of what I have."

As soon as Elizabeth was done speaking, she turned to Jack.

"Jack." Elizabeth said. "I can't sit here any longer. Please deal with this. I need some air."

"I understand." Jack said. "Go up to the music room. You can go out on the deck and stay under the covering and no one will see you. I will give you as much time as you need. Message me if you need anything."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth pushed her chair back and Jack stood as well. He pulled Elizabeth into a hug. She moved to kiss him and he let her. She poured her emotions into the kiss and it got a little more intense then either had meant. They pulled apart when John cleared his throat. Elizabeth blushed. She didn't look at anyone, but headed for the stairs to head up to the music room. Jack watched her go before he turned and took a seat again.

"Sorry about that, Sir." Jack said.

"It is okay." John said. "I just thought I would remind you we were here."