Chapter 104 – Boys and Their Clothes part 2

When Gabe got downstairs, he went straight to the large room he was sharing with the other guys. Gabe was still unsure of staying in the house, but he also wanted to do everything to keep Nathan safe. Gabe wondered how Nathan felt so comfortable, since he knew that large amounts of money made him nervous. Maybe there was something to John Parker Thornton, II aka Jack. Everything that Gabe had read and heard, said that Jack was different from other rich young men. But the things that Gabe had heard over the last few days flew in the face of what he had read about Jack Thornton and Gabe wasn't sure what to believe. All he knew was that he had to find the truth.

As Gabe got close to the room, he heard the guys talking in low voices. It sounded like a fun banter between them. There was a part of Gabe that wanted to be included in that banter, but there was also a part of him that was on guard. Like Nathan, Gabe didn't have a lot of friends. He thought that part of it was the job. He also thought that part of it might be the way that he and Nathan grew up. Either way, Gabe knew that he had a job to do and that was what he was going to do. As much as he wanted friends, Gabe wanted to impress his bosses and advance in his job.

"Hey." Gabe said. "Margaret told me to bring this down."

Jack looked at the box, he took it and set it on the bed. He was sure he knew what it was and even if it had his name on it, it wasn't for him.

"Thanks." Jack said.

"So how are we going to do this?" Gabe asked.

"Do what?" Jack asked.

"I am technically here to keep you all safe." Gabe said.

"So is Nathan." Jack said. "You just do what you feel comfortable with. Please call me Jack. You met Doug and Lee. The three of us have been best friends for years. We just simply added Nathan and now we can add you. I don't want you to be uncomfortable, but I don't care if you work for me or my family. I will treat you like a friend, but don't cross any of us or you will make enemies of us all. We have each other's back, no questions asked. That includes Nathan."

Gabe nodded.

"We all will." Doug said. "The only thing that we ask is that if you don't know something to ask. Whether it is about the horses or our background."

"Okay." Gabe said. "Then please call me Gabe, only my mother calls me Gabriel."

"Gabe it is." Jack said. "However, Gran may still call you Gabriel."

"It has taken years for her to call us Doug and Lee." Doug said. "For the longest time we were Douglas and Leland. Now, she only uses those to get a point across."

"I think that's the only reason that she calls me JP." Jack said. "Is because that is what I have been called since I was born. I have tried to get her and Grandpa to call me Jack, but they don't always remember. I allow it because I love them."

"So what were you doing?" Gabe asked.

"Going through our clothes for tomorrow." Lee said.

Gabe looked at the dress shirts laid out on the bed and then thought about his shirt and vest.

"I have a dress shirt, vest and tie." Gabe said. "But nothing that fancy (pointing to the shirts on the bed.)"

"No problem." Jack said. "We have you covered."

Jack opened the box and pulled out a suit bag. Jack had read the note and knew that the box was for Gabe. The note also apologized for only having one vest as there wasn't a matching second one.

"What is that now?" Doug asked.

"Not for me." Jack said.

"Then who?" Nathan asked. "We all have our stuff?"

"Not all of us." Jack said. "This is from the same shop that Dad and Grandpa John use. It has Gabe's name on it."

Jack handed the bag to Gabe.

"Seriously?" Gabe asked.

"Yep." Jack said. "Open it."

Gabe opened it and pulled out a matching shirt to the rest of the boys. His was general size and not tailor fitted like the other's stuff was.

"Nice." Nathan said. "Now I won't feel so bad."

"I don't have cufflinks." Gabe said.

"We were just getting to that." Nathan said.

Nathan then took Gabe's arm and turned him toward the bed where Jack had laid out the cufflinks.

"Wow." Gabe said. "Are those real?"

"You have to ask?" Doug laughed.

"If you are uncomfortable." Jack said. "I think that there are some basic silver ones in the bag with the shirt, along with basic black and white ties."

Gabe and Nathan looked at each other.

"So pick which ones that you want to wear." Jack said.

Doug picked the galloping horses. Lee went with the double horseshoes.

"Gabe, Nathan." Jack said. "Which ones do you want to wear?"

"Should we wear matching sets?" Nathan asked.

"Sure." Gabe said.

Nathan and Gabe each grabbed a case, closing them and setting them with their stuff.

"Which ones are you going to wear?" Doug asked.

"Depends." Jack said. "I need to know what Elizabeth is wearing first, but it will be one of the shamrocks."

"Of course." Lee laughed. "I bet you have matching jewelry for her."

Jack didn't say anything, but everyone could see the color that crept into Jack's cheeks. That was when Gabe noticed the mark on Jack's face.

"What happened to your face?" Gabe asked, stepping closer.

"Nothing." Jack said, turning his head.

"John Parker Thornton." Doug said. "Tell him or I will."

Jack stuck his tongue out at Doug and then turned to Gabe.

"Fine." Jack said. "After lunch and before you came, my mother was upset and slapped me."

Gabe turned to Nathan.

"It is fine." Nathan said. "Please drop it. I put her in cuffs until she calmed down. There has been enough discord. We don't need to make it worse. She was warned that it will never happen again."

"As long as you are fine." Gabe said.

"Yes." Jack said. "Please drop it."

Gabe nodded.

"Now let's see what else is in these bags." Jack said.

The next item that the boys each pulled out was a silver paisley Jacquard silk vest. Jack was the first to spot the next item and started laughing.

"What is so funny?" Nathan asked.

"Check your bags." Jack said. "Sorry Gabe, but I think that you only have one. The rest of us have a second vest to choose from."

"It is okay." Gabe said.

Each of the other boys held up a different tartan plaid vest.

"If I know my Grandfather." Jack said. "These are each specific to your family name."

"I don't have a tartan since my family is not from either Ireland or Scotland." Gabe said. "I did, however bring, a gray plaid double breasted vest."

"Cool." Jack said.

"So which one are you wearing?" Nathan said.

"He won't choose until he knows what Elizabeth is wearing." Doug quickly said.

"You guys wear what you want." Jack said. "I don't care."

Doug, Lee and Nathan all exchanged looks.

"Plaid." They all said together.

"Guess I will wear my plaid one as well." Gabe said. "Here Jack you can have this one back."

"No, keep it." Jack said.

"Are you sure?" Gabe asked.

"Yes." Jack said.

Doug took a step closer to Gabe and draped his arm across his shoulders.

"Best not to argue when it comes to gifts or paying for things." Doug said. "Jack and his grandfather are very generous. They also don't understand the word 'no' when they want to buy something for people."

"Okay." Gabe said. "So what pants are you wearing?"

"Black Ariat jeans." Jack said.

Doug and Lee nodded.

"I have black dress pants or blue jeans." Nathan said.

"Me too." Gabe said.

"Check your bags." Jack said.

Jack was right, there was a pair of black Ariat jeans for each Gabe and Nathan.

"Where did you get my sizes?" Gabe asked.

"You may be FBI." Jack said. "But don't ever underestimate my grandfather when he wants information. I am sure that he called the major and got your uniform size."

"I guess." Gabe said.

"Before you ask." Jack said. "We all have black dress boots that we have to polish. Nathan, Doug and I also have riding boots to polish. Doug, Nathan and I also have a riding shirt and jacket."

"Okay." Gabe said. "I have a pair of short dress boots as well as dress shoes."

"Well, you can join us later then if you want." Doug said.

Jack was looking at his new red jacket and there was a scowl on his face.

"What is wrong?" Lee asked.

"This was supposed to have been embroidered." Jack said.

"Turn it around." Nathan said.

There on the back, was a large Coal Creek/Thornton Thoroughbreds logo. Jack let out a harsh breath. Jack wasn't happy, but he also knew that there was nothing that he could do about it at the time. He would wear it the next day.

"Well." Doug said. "At least your number will cover most of it."

"I guess." Jack said.

Doug and Nathan each pulled out a navy jacket and white shirt for jumping. There was also a tie and belt.

"Let's take this all over to the laundry room." Jack said. "Gran and Abigail will take care of it. Nathan, you can throw your load in if you haven't already. Doug, Lee, laundry?"

Both shook their heads no.

"Then what do you want to do?" Doug asked.

"I want to check on the horses." Jack said. "I also need to sit with security and don't you have to talk to us as well, Gabe."

"Yes." Gabe said. "It can wait a little bit, if you want to check on the horses."

They guys took their stuff to the laundry room. Nathan took a moment to throw his load in. Since it wasn't a full load, Doug went back and grabbed a few things to throw in as well. Jack also took the opportunity to show Gabe around a little bit.

"I hope that you feel comfortable here." Jack said. "If there is anything that you need, please just let us know."

"This is more than enough." Gabe said. "I have been staying in the barracks at the police depot with twenty plus other men."

"Then this is a very good upgrade." Nathan said.

When the boys got upstairs, they found Gran sitting at the counter with a cup of tea.

"Where is Elizabeth?" Jack asked.

"She was upset after what your mother said." Gran said. "She wanted to be alone, so she went down to her room."

Jack didn't even wait for another minute, he hurried back down the stairs. After he left, Doug and Lee exchanged a look. They knew that Jack was worried about Elizabeth, especially after the afternoon that they had had. It wasn't that Jack was worried that Elizabeth would do something, but he wanted to let her know that he still wanted her there.

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