Chapter 96 – Wild Trip to Town
The first stop in town was to run to the bank and as Nathan pulled into the drive thru lane, the security car went around where they could see the drive thru, but not block cars. As they got closer, Jack scooted over to the back window behind Nathan and rolled it down just a bit. When it was their turn, Nathan pulled so that Jack could reach the window and talk. He talked to the ladies at the bank while he filled out the slip to get the money.
"Thank you." Jack said as he sent the slip inside.
It took a couple of minutes for the gal to count out the money and then she was back.
"Thank you Mr Thornton." The lady said. "Have a nice day and just to remind you we will be closed tomorrow for the Classic."
"Thank you for telling me." Jack said. "But I should be okay, I can still use the ATM if needed right?"
"Yes." The lady said. "If you use one that is not ours, keep your slip, bring it in and if you are charged a fee, we will return it for you."
"Is that new?" Jack asked.
"Yes." The lady said. "We just started it with some of our larger accounts, but July first, it will be system wide for us."
"Thank you." Jack said. "I will remember that. I don't do it often, but it is nice to know."
"Your welcome, Mr Thornton." The lady said. "Please enjoy your weekend."
"You as well." Jack said.
Jack patted Nathan on the shoulder and he pulled away. Elizabeth looked at Jack when they were pulling away.
"She likes you." Elizabeth said.
"What?" Jack asked.
"She was flirting with you." Elizabeth said.
"Didn't notice." Jack said. "I only have eyes for you, sweetheart."
"I like when you call me that." Elizabeth said.
"I like calling you that." Jack said. "But I doubt that she was flirting with me."
"She was totally flirting with you." Nathan said with a chuckle.
Jack blushed, then leaned over and gave Elizabeth a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Like I said." Jack said. "I only have eyes for you."
When they got to the courthouse, the back parking lot was blocked off. They couldn't see why, so Nathan just circled the block and parked as close to the front as he could get. Security pulled up as close as they could to Nathan's truck. Before they went inside, Nathan removed both weapons and locked them in the drawer under the passenger's side seat.
"Ready?" Nathan asked.
"If you are." Jack said.
Nathan nodded and got out of the truck. Jack slid out and helped Elizabeth down, then pulled her close and put an arm around her shoulder to walk in. What none of them noticed was the photographer across the street snapping lots of photos. Nathan walked on the other side of Elizabeth so that she was between Jack and Nathan with Nathan being the closest to the street side. They got into the courthouse and noticed a lot of people, more than what they expected for early on a Friday morning.
"What is going on?" Jack asked the security guard.
"I am not sure." The guard said. "I am fairly new. I usually work at the service center and not the courthouse, but they needed extra people here today."
"Okay." Jack said.
They all went through security. Nathan took a moment to explain that he was private security for Jack, but he was currently unarmed. The security guard looked at the young couple who had just passed security.
"Should I be worried?" The guard asked.
"No." Nathan said. "We are just here to file some papers. There are two additional security waiting outside and there will be at least one, maybe more state troopers joining them. If anyone asked, you didn't see us."
"Understood." The guard said.
Jack and Nathan ushered Elizabeth down the hallway and away from the crowds of people. Jack led them to where they needed to be. They took a number and waited to be called to the front so they could complete their business. As they were sitting waiting, they overheard that there was some big arraignment happening. Jack and Nathan exchanged looks behind Elizabeth's head, but didn't say anything. After about fifteen minutes and a growing crowd, Nathan was getting nervous. Jack had pulled his ball cap down more over his face. Looking at Jack and then how uncomfortable Elizabeth was becoming, Nathan stood up.
"Stay here." Nathan said before walking away.
Both Jack and Elizabeth watched as Nathan went up to the security guard and explained who he was and who he was with and that he was concerned about the growing number of people. When the security guard looked over, Jack lifted his cap so that the guard could see his face. The guard stood and motioned for Nathan to follow him. They walked back over to Jack and Elizabeth.
"Please come with me." The guard said.
Jack and Elizabeth stood and followed the guard with Nathan following them. They were led to a back office to wait.
"I am so sorry." The guard said. "Why didn't you say who you were?"
"I didn't think that it would be this busy." Jack said. "I saw a couple of photographers and that was when I started getting nervous. This is my fiancée Miss Elizabeth Thatcher, and her family is not happy that she is with me and is causing trouble. I don't even know if they know that we are up here."
The guard looked at them with wide eyes.
"Please, Sir." Elizabeth said. "It is alright. My father was forcing me onto another man that is not kind. Jack here rescued me. I have cut all ties with my family for the time being, but am still concerned that they may cause trouble."
"I understand." The guard said. "What did you need at the court today?"
"We need to sign some papers." Jack said. "There are some that we brought that need to be signed in front of a notary and filed and there are some that should be here from my grandfather, John Thornton, Sr."
"I will see to them and bring someone to you." The guard said.
"Thank you." Jack said.
As the guard left, Jack and Elizabeth took a seat at the small table in the middle of the room. Nathan spied a coffee pot and poured each of them a cup before sitting between Jack and the door. It took about ten minutes and the guard was back with a court clerk.
"Please stay here when you are done and I will have someone escort you out." The guard said. "I am also working to clear the photographers from the hallway."
"Thank you very much." Jack said.
The guard left and the clerk sat down.
"I am so sorry about this." The clerk said. "I have all the paperwork that you need to sign. I can go get someone since we need two witnesses."
"Can my friends sign?" Jack asked.
"As long as they are legal adults." The clerk said.
"We are both eighteen." Jack said. "And Nathan here is twenty-five."
"Very well." The clerk said. "The guard also said that you had some other paperwork."
"Yes." Jack said.
Jack pulled some papers out of the messenger bag that he had brought with them.
"Where would you like to start?" The clerk asked.
"Let's start with these." Jack said pointing to the papers he brought. "I think that there may be some questions with the other stuff."
"Very well." The clerk said. "Let's see what you have."
Jack pushed the papers over to the clerk. She looked through them and then looked up at the young couple.
"I have to tell you." The clerk said. "Yes, this will make a difference, but just so that you are aware, your parents can challenge it in court if the need arises. The person or persons named will have power or a court can appoint another person until a judge can rule."
"Is there a way around that?" Elizabeth asked.
"If there was a next of kin that took priority over your parents." The clerk said.
"Such as?" Nathan asked.
"A spouse or child." The clerk said. "Granted the child would have to be at least sixteen to be considered."
"So a spouse is better than a parent?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." The clerk said. "Granted it can still be challenged in court, but there are few judges in the country that would go against a husband or wife when it comes to the care of their significant other as long as they can prove that they know their spouse and are legally married."
"Good to know." Jack said, looking over at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled at Jack. They all signed the paperwork where the clerk pointed and then she signed and put her seal on the paperwork. She then set those aside and handed the paperwork she brought over to Jack. He looked through it and then set everything down.
"Do these two know what that is?" The clerk asked, pointing to the stack of papers in front of Jack.
"Not really." Jack said. "But I can quickly explain."
"As long as I feel that they understand what they are signing." The clerk said.
Elizabeth took Jack's hand and Nathan looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Before speaking Jack took a deep breath, closed his eyes and counted to ten.
"First of all." Jack said. "I am sorry to spring this on you this way, I had been hoping to have time to talk things through, but Grandpa John needs this paperwork as soon as possible to get things moving."
"Okay." Nathan said. "You know I trust you."
"Thank you." Jack said. "So, as of July first, I will be the owner of Coal Creek with my grandparents staying there for as long as they want or need. In addition to that, I also become majority owner of Coal Creek Inc, which is the actual business, not just the land. As owner, I have made the decision to buy the Miller property that is adjacent to Coal Creek and at one time was a part of Coal Creek. My grandfather, John Thornton, is helping to finance the venture. Over a year ago, I presented my grandparents with a comprehensive long term plan for Coal Creek. After much discussion and planning, they along with Uncle Conrad accepted my plan. Grandpa James will remain the primary decision maker on the day to day business of Coal Creek, but the plan is for me to become more involved over the next several years. That is why I have officially switched my major for the fall. What my parents know, I don't know. I did the plan without their knowledge. With everything that has happened in the last number of days, Gran was going to try and talk to Dad today while we were here, but it doesn't change anything and Dad will realize that when he calls his father as I am sure he will do.
When I learned of the property that is currently the Miller property, I contacted Grandpa John about buying as I told you last night. He decided with the changes for Coal Creek that he was going to list it as a holding of Coal Creek, Inc and not as a holding of one of my other companies. Since we have documentation that the entire Miller property was once owned by Grandpa James' family and was officially part of Coal Creek, he thought it would be better overall. So this paperwork is the final paperwork for the transition of Coal Creek as well as the company of Coal Creek, Inc to my ownership as well as the initial paperwork for me to buy the Miller property as the owner of Coal Creek. Do you have any questions?"
"Wow." Elizabeth said. "Are you okay with this?"
"Yes." Jack said. "Like I said, we have been planning this for over a year. You being here and loving the place as much as I do, only makes me more sure that we are moving in the right direction. I promised and put it in writing that Gran and Grandpa James will always have a place at Coal Creek as long as they want."
"So this was part of what you were talking about last night?" Elizabeth asked. "When I asked about the money?"
"Yes." Jack said. "When I said that there was money set aside and tied up in business, this was part of what I was talking about."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
She closed her eyes and blew out a harsh breath.
"Sweetheart." Jack said softly. "Are you okay with this?"
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Just give me a moment. It is a lot to take in. Your mother already hates me and this is only going to make it worse."
"Elizabeth." Nathan said. "If you are having second thoughts, Jack needs to know, now."
"No." Elizabeth said. "Not second thoughts. Just a lot to take in."
"I take it that there is a relationship between you two." The clerk said motioning between Jack and Elizabeth.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "We are engaged, but his parents think we are too young."
"And yours?" The clerk asked.
"My father was pushing another man on me to further his business." Elizabeth said. "That man is slightly older and doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to the way he treats women."
"Okay." The clerk said. "For what it is worth, I think that you two make a lovely couple. You may be young, but it appears that Mr Thornton has the means to provide for you and that you both have a good head on your shoulders. I know I shouldn't share personal information, but I think that you need to hear this."
Jack and Elizabeth both looked at each other and then turned their attention to the clerk.
"We won't say anything." Jack said.
"I won't either." Nathan said.
"Thank you." The clerk said. "I ran away to marry my high school sweetheart. We were in love, but didn't have much money between us. We both worked hard and went to night school when we could. It took a long time, but we both finished and he is now a judge here in this very building. I have worked here over twenty-five years. We have a wonderful family and are still very much in love. We made it work and I know that you can as well. You are starting out much further ahead than we were. I was sixteen and he was seventeen when we ran away to be married."
"Thank you for telling us." Elizabeth said. "I admire you for making a better life for yourself and your family. You are right, Jack and I are starting with much more than most people our age. This is all just so new to me."
"Don't let the money bother you." The clerk said. "My husband and I have plenty of money to retire now, but we still live like we did when we were starting out. We live in a nice three bedroom home. We buy used clothes when we can and only enjoy a vacation every other year. Our kids didn't have the newest and latest toys and they survived. If anything, it made them appreciate when they did get something."
"Yes." Nathan said. "I know what you mean."
"Thank you for sharing." Jack said. "Nathan, Elizabeth do either of you have any questions before we sign. We have other things that we need to do and then get back to the farm. I have a show tomorrow."
"Are you jumping at the Classic?" The clerk asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "As well as one of my best friends."
"No questions." Elizabeth said.
"Me either." Nathan said. "Like I said, I trust you."
"Then let's sign." The clerk said.
It took a few minutes to get through all the paperwork and the signatures needed, but finally they finished the last one. The clerk took the stack of paperwork and clipped it all back together.
"I will file these today." She said. "I will personally have my husband sign off on what needs to be done."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"I will let the guard know that you are ready." The clerk said.
"Thank you for everything." Elizabeth said.
The group stood and shook hands before the clerk left. Nathan looked at Jack when the door closed.
"So how do you think your parents will react?" Nathan said.
"Frankly." Jack said. "I don't care. I have Gran and Grandpa on my side. Besides that, I have the backing of Grandpa John. Dad can scream and yell all he wants, Grandpa John will deal with him."
"Okay then." Elizabeth said.
"Don't worry." Jack said. "He will love you. You make me happy and that is all he will care about."
Elizabeth smiled and squeezed Jack's hand.