Thank you for all your wonderful reviews! I'm so glad you all are enjoying it as much a I'm enjoying writing it! I've got writer's block on the chapter that I'm working on but I have enough wrote for about 2 months of posting. So be assured that I have enough to keep you going while I work through my writer's block.

Chapter 14

Scared

Aunt Elizabeth contacted the school district and got permission to come open the school with her as the teacher. Elizabeth couldn't bring herself to go back in there yet. She didn't even leave her house. She had Jack install a second lock on both doors.

One afternoon Aunt came by after school to have a chat. Elizabeth was 8 months pregnant now. She didn't even get dressed anymore.

The doctor had come by but said, she's fine physically but mentally she's scared to death. Jack had asked, what can we do? The doctor just says, time, it's just going to take time and with her hormones all over the place from the pregnancy it's twice as bad. Constable she's not depressed or mentally unstable, she's just scared that it could happen again. Until she gets over her fear there's nothing that can be done. Just be patient with her and let her know you are here for her. When you can get her to sit outside then she will start to get over it but don't push. Thank you doc. You're welcome. I'll stop by next week to check on her. Let me know if you need anything. He shook his hand and left.

Aunt Elizabeth went in and sat down on the couch with her. Elizabeth laid her head in her Aunt's lap. Silent tears fell. Beth dear, I want you to listen to me. Are you listening? Yes ma'am. I know you are scared but you got yourself to safety. Jack and Uncle kept you safe, didn't they? Yes ma'am. This man has been sentenced to life in prison. He will never get out. You were only one of 12 women. Thank God that He protected you. He didn't allow that man to come near you. But He did allow him to come here and to be caught. Do you understand what I'm saying dear?

Elizabeth sat up and stared at her Aunt and asked, God used me to bring this man to justice? Yes dear. All the Mounties across Canada couldn't catch him. Beth dear, I know it sounds cruel but He kept you and this baby safe the whole time, didn't He? Elizabeth thought about what her Aunt was saying. Then it was like a something switched on in her head.

Jack was standing at the door listening to the conversation. He prayed that God would intervene right now. Beth dear, God doesn't put more on us than we can bare. You need to put your trust back in Him because He's the only one that is going to pull you out of this darkness that you have been in. Elizabeth asks, will you pray with me? Oh Little Beth I'll always pray with you and for you! Jack walks around the end of the sofa and kneels down to pray with both of them.

After about 30 minutes of praying. They were all crying with a renewed faith of healing for her. They were hugging and crying when Uncle steps through the door. Elizabeth got up and walked over to her Uncle and motioned with her finger. With tears in his eyes he bent down and let her kiss his cheek. He grabbed her and hugged her like there was no tomorrow. He whispered in her ear, welcome back My Little Beth! They both cried silent tears. Her turmoil was over after 2 months.

It was almost Christmas. She had missed Thanksgiving and almost missed Christmas. She asked Uncle and Jack to go get a tree. They wouldn't have gifts but would have each other. She was to start her maternity leave in 2 weeks so her Aunt would continue to teach. Jack had to be sure she was alright. He kissed her cheek and asked Bella would you like to go and pick out our tree? She looks at him and whispers, not this year. Baby steps okay? He kisses her softly and says baby steps.

They had a wonderful Christmas just the two of them. No gifts except one. Jack had framed one of the drawings that he drew in Vancouver. It was the moon shining on the ocean. She had him hang it behind her desk. They step back and both say, perfect.

They kissed and just held one another, no tears this time. She was enjoying her Aunt and Uncle being there. They would be here when the baby came in a month. New Year's Eve Jack talked her into going just outside the door to watch the stars like they did last year. She didn't step to far away from the house but she did make it out of the house. Jack would take even this small step. He just hoped that she wouldn't regress after the baby came and go into being overly protective. He prayed every day that God would give her the courage to step a little further. She only had 3 weeks to her due date.

The following week she got a surprise visitor. There was a knock at her door. She went to the window to look out before she unlocked the door and opened it. Jack had made arrangements for her to come. She screams and slings the door open and jumped in Abigail's arms. She almost knocked her over but Abigail was ready for her. They hug and cry happy tears.

Jack comes around the car with Abigail's bags. She pulls her into the house and over to the sofa. Jack takes her bags into their room. He comes out and fixes them some tea and plates some cookies. He puts everything on a tray and carries it to the coffee table. Kisses her and says, surprise! I thought you could use a friend right now with the baby coming in 2 weeks. She stands and hugs him and says thank you hon. You're the best! He kisses her and says he has to get the car back to town. They say goodbye and he leaves.

He prays that Abigail is what she needs to bring his Bella all the way back to him. Yes she loved him and showed him affection but she still wouldn't get away from the house. If anyone could accomplish it it was going to be Abigail.

Abigail and Elizabeth sat and visit for a couple hours until it's time to start dinner. Elizabeth asks her to join her in the kitchen but asks her to sit at the table while she prepares dinner.

Elizabeth gets everything ready for chicken pot pie. She puts the chicken on to boil while she prepares the vegetables. She puts them in with the chicken just until the chicken is done. She dips everything out and put them in a bowl while she prepares the creamy gravy.

When it's done she makes the pie crust and divides it in two. She rolls out the dough and puts it in the bottom of her buttered pan. Then she mixes all the ingredients together in the bowl and pours it in the pan. She rolls the second pie dough out and places it on top and crimps the dough together around the edges. She cuts two slits in it and sets it in the oven. Then she starts making her lemon cake with a glazed icing.

As Abigail watches she is amazed at how comfortable Elizabeth is in the kitchen. Abigail says, I'm proud of you you know! Why Abigail? Because you have come so far from that young school teacher that came to Coal Valley a few years ago. Thank you. That means a lot coming from you!

Just out of curiosity where did you learn to cook because I tried for two years to teach you. Well when I left as you know, I went to my Aunt and Uncle's and when I found out I was coming here and wouldn't have anyone to fall back on I asked my Aunt to teach me. I learned to cook and bake in two months. I guess I just needed to be on my own to learn. In Coal Valley I always had you to fall back on when I failed.

My Aunt wouldn't take over like I asked her to when I did fail. She just threw it out and made me start over. I think her trash can got more than we did the first few weeks. By the last two weeks I don't think there was anything I couldn't cook or bake. My scones are as good as yours but my biscuits aren't as flaky. I'll show you in the morning, Abigail said. It's simple really. That would be wonderful Abigail!

She had her cake ready to go in the oven so she slide the pot pie over and slid the cake in. She set her timer for thirty five minutes. She fixed them some more tea and plated a few cookies and set them on the table.

Abigail gets up and walks to the window and says, it beautiful up here. Elizabeth says, we don't have your mountains though. Yeah I suppose, Abigail said. Would you like to take a walk while the cake bakes? It's a beautiful day. Fresh air will do us some good. Elizabeth thinks and says, no not today, it's pretty chilly out. Abigail says, ok maybe when it warms up a bit and goes back and takes her seat at the table.

Abigail asks, what do you do up here for fun? Oh I don't know, we go for walks, or go for a buggy ride and before I got pregnant we use to take Sargent out. Isn't there some place to fish up here, Abigail asked? You know I really never asked. I haven't had fish since I left Vancouver. I'll have to ask Jack. It would be great to go fishing and have a picnic if the weather permits, Abigail says! It would be nice just like old times huh? It would.

Do you get a lot of snow up here. Yes more at the end of January and all of February and part of March. Our spring doesn't really start until the middle of April. That's why we got married in April.

The timer went off and she took the cake out and moved the pot pie over to the center of the oven. She put the cake on the cooling rack while she made the glaze. When she finished she set it aside and got her cake plate out and put it on top of the cake pan. She inverted it and sat it down. She let it rest for a couple of minutes then pulled the pan off. Abigail says, that's got to be the prettiest Bundt cake I've ever seen. Aunt Elizabeth got it for me before we left Vancouver. This is the first time I've ever used it. It is pretty isn't it? Yes it is. And you're not going to ice it like you ice a cake? No when it completely cools you pour the glaze icing over it. It's delicious.

Aunt Elizabeth took me to this restaurant in Vancouver and we had tea and a slice of this cake. It was so delicious I asked her to show me how to make it. It's really simple to make. It's just powdered sugar, two tablespoons of milk and a teaspoon of vanilla but I used lemon extract because it's a lemon cake. Well I can't wait to try it!

Jack came in about 5:30 and asked, what have you ladies been up to today? Bella? Is that chicken pot pie I smell? Yes hon and a lemon Bundt cake for dessert! Wonderful, I'm starving! Get washed up and we'll set the table.

After dinner Jack asked, Abigail? Did you ever think she would turn out to be such a fantastic cook? I had my doubts at times but I'm glad she proved me wrong. Elizabeth got up and cleared the table. Jack carried the scraps out to the edge of the woods to keep the critters away from the house. Abigail and Elizabeth washed and dried the dishes.

Jack put on some tea. While they waited on the tea they retired to the living room in front of the cozy fireplace. When the kettle whistled Elizabeth got up to cut the cake. She plated them and brought them and the tea back and sat the tray on the coffee table. They each took their tea cup and saucer and a plate of cake. Abigail takes a bite and closed her eyes to savor it. She opened her eyes and smiled, Elizabeth! That is the best cake I've ever tasted! I told you Abigail, she's fantastic! Well I want that recipe! No problem Abigail. I'd be happy to share it with you! The glaze too! Yes. You can't have one without the other!

While they were eating Abigail asked, Jack where does one go fishing around here? The Delaney's have a pond. I don't know if it has fish in but we can ask and there is a pretty big steam down the road a piece. Elizabeth doesn't fish so I just never took her down there. Elizabeth spoke up, who says Elizabeth doesn't fish. Well Bella if my memory serves me correctly, you didn't fish in Coal Valley because you didn't want to touch the worms. Well I'll have you know that Uncle taught me to fish in Vancouver. I'm not as good as he is but I can catch my own dinner.

Really? Abigail and Jack said at the same time. Yes I can! This I have to see, Jack says with a smirk. Bella, who baits your hook? Jack, I do. I had to learn a lot before I came here. I still would have to see it to believe it, Bella. Fine we'll go fishing when it warms up and I'll prove it to you. I even know how to summon the worms to the top of the ground instead of digging for them. Jack laughs and says, ok I believe you because if you didn't you wouldn't know what summon worms were but I still want to see you bait your own hook.

Jack you think we could go while I'm here? You know how much I love to fish. Sure Abigail as long as it's warm enough. I'll have to buy the worms in town because the ground is to frozen to summon them. That's fine. Elizabeth spoke up and said, make sure they're the big red wrigglers. Their the best. Besides you can break them in half and get twice as many fish. Jack and Abigail just look at each other. Yes ma'am he says.

Jack stoked the fire in the fireplace and put a couple more logs on. He asked. It's getting late are you ready for bed Bella? Yes, let me take this tray back to the kitchen first. He says, here I'll do it because I need to turn the lamp down. You get Abigail's blankets and pillow while I do this. She said thank you and went to the bedroom to retrieve them. She came back out and placed them on the sofa, kissed Abigail good night and says she'll see her in the morning.

The next morning Elizabeth and Abigail were in the kitchen cooking breakfast. Abigail told her roll the dough out then fold it over and roll out and to repeat several times then press out with your hands then cut them out. Place them on the baking sheet and brush with butter. There you go Elizabeth. She put them in the oven and made the sausage gravy. Jack came in from the outhouse. He took a whiff and asked, craving? Elizabeth chuckled and asked, do you mind? He walks over and wraps his arms around her waist as best he could, kisses her cheek and says, anything you and our baby wants!

They set down to breakfast. Elizabeth takes a bite of her biscuit before she puts her gravy on it. She closed her eyes to savor it. She opened her eyes and said, hon taste the biscuits first! He takes a bite and asked, Abigail, you made the biscuits? No hon I did! Abigail told me how to make them flaky! Well, a little touch from Coal Valley! Thanks Abigail!

After breakfast the kitchen was cleaned up and dishes put away. Jack drinks the last swallow of his coffee, kisses Elizabeth and says, that was a delicious breakfast thank you! Im heading out to do my morning rounds. I'm going to check on Lady before I go. I'll be back for lunch before I do my afternoon rounds. She says, okay hon. Please be careful. See you for lunch.

She walks him to the door and helps him on with his serge and wipes his shoulders with her hands just like every day. He turns and kisses her as he buttoned it. He took his hat off the hook and bid them goodbye.

A few days later Elizabeth was tossing and turning trying to get comfortable. No matter how much she tried to get comfortable she couldn't.

Jack woke, rubbed his eyes and asked, can't get comfortable again Bella? Oh I'm sorry hon. I didn't mean to wake you. Are you hurting Bella? No just miserable and uncomfortable that's all. Want me to rub your back for you? I hate to be a nuisance here lately. Bella, you are not a nuisance. You're growing our baby in there.

He rubs her belly and the baby settles. She thanks him and lays down on her side. He gently rubs her back from her shoulders down to her lower back. She moans and says, that feels good hon!

She rubs her belly and says, I wonder how much longer before he's here? Do you still think it's a boy? Yes I do and hon, I want to name him after his father. Bella I'm honored but shouldn't we give him a wonderful and noble name? Someone you look up to? Oh hon, don't you know you are that man to me! There isn't any other man that I would or could name him after!

He stops and kisses her temple and says, Bella, are you serious? Is that how you really feel about me? She rolls back over to face him. She raises her hand to his cheek and says, Jack hon, you have to know that you are everything to me and this baby. You are the most important person in my life! You are who I want our children to look up to because you are worthy. You are a wonderful, gentle, caring, loving, noble, smart man. That's who I want our children to grow up to be. So hon, yes if this little one is a boy I truly want to name him after you, please! He reached up to wipe the stray tears away and said, that will be fine with me.

I just hope and pray that I can live up to your expectations of me. Hon, all you have to do is just be yourself and you will be a wonderful father.