Chapter 127 – Charlotte Pushes Too Far

Lee came over with a cup of coffee for John and sat down next to him.

"Did you need something?" John asked.

"Are you really not going to let them go?" Lee said. "They are making Jack's life miserable and they are making it hard for everyone else. If they want to go, just let them go."

"I will." John said. "Tomorrow afternoon. This is about teaching them a lesson that they both need to learn. One that I thought I had taught my son, but apparently, he failed to retain the information."

"Okay." Lee said. "All I ask is please don't let them ruin today for Jack. He is struggling enough without having to deal with them. He didn't say much last night, but I know Jack and I can see it in his eyes how much he is struggling."

"Is he going to be okay to ride?" John asked.

"Yes." Lee said. "Nathan and Doug will make sure. Neither will let him near a horse if he doesn't have his head in the game. That is why I offered to stay up here this morning."

John nodded.

"Then I will leave you to be a buffer between Elizabeth and the others this afternoon." John said. "Part of me wishes that he wouldn't jump, but I get why he wants to and I also get why he refuses to back down."

"Thank you." Lee said.

Lee went back to the kitchen and helped Elizabeth with the last of the dishes. Once they were done, Elizabeth looked at Gran's list of things that they would need for later that afternoon and the next day. After talking with Lee for a few moments, they divided up the tasks that they knew that they could finish. They were all surprised when Doug and Jack walked in the back door.

"Grandpa John." Jack said. "Nathan already headed to the meeting. I thought he said you were going."

"Oh." John said. "I guess I lost track of time."

"Here." Jack said. "These are the keys to the side by side."

"I don't know." John said.

"I will run you down." Doug said. "Then I will come back. You can come back with Nathan. He took one from the stable."

"Okay." John said.

John and Doug left. Jack walked over toward the kitchen.

"Where is Gran?" Jack asked.

"She laid down for a bit after breakfast." Elizabeth said. "We were working through her list."

"Thank you for helping." Jack said. "I am going to run down and shower. I can braid your hair afterwards. We still have a couple of hours before we have to leave. Don't let me forget my extra boots and a small cooler with Gatorade for Doug and I."

"It is on the list." Elizabeth said.

"Thanks." Jack said.

Elizabeth came over and gave Jack a quick kiss.

"Go shower." Elizabeth said. "I am going to finish up here and then go change."

"Yes, ma'am." Jack said with a dimpled grin and mock salute.

Jack leaned in and gave Elizabeth another kiss, but Elizabeth slipped her arm around his neck and held him a second.

"Seriously." Charlotte huffed.

Jack turned and glared at his mother, with a look colder than ice.

"I will kiss my fiancée any time I want." Jack said. "Keep it up and I will have you removed. You forget that this is going to be my house and my property."

"I will never allow you to have this." Charlotte sneered. "Your father has already drawn up papers to fight you on this. We aren't going to let you con your grandparents out of everything they have worked their lives for. You can't go behind our backs and do whatever you want. There are consequences to your actions. I will not allow you to destroy what I have."

Before Jack could say anything, Gran let out a sharp whistle.

"Charlotte Lucille." Gran said. "That is it. I want you out of this house right now. I explicitly told you that uncivil behavior will not be tolerated. I have called Rob and he is on his way to escort you from the property. You are right, actions have consequences and these are the consequences of your actions."

"Where am I supposed to go?" Charlotte yelled.

"I don't care." Gran said.

Thomas came out while they were talking. He looked between his wife, son and mother-in-law.

"What the hell is going on?" Thomas yelled.

"You have ten minutes to get your stuff and then you will be escorted off this property." Gran said. "I have had enough of your disrespect. Both of you."

"Where are we supposed to go?" Thomas yelled. "We don't even have a car here."

"Then I will have someone escort you into town and you can figure it out." Gran said. "Rob is on his way and you better have your things. You will not be allowed back on this property until I can get it in writing from you that you understand the rules and can abide by them. The soonest that will happen will be Monday. I am done. You are the one that has forced me to choose and this is what is going to happen. Also if either of you try to fight James and I on what we chose to do with our property, then you will be cut off completely. You will not be allowed on this property and you will be cut from the will completely. We have made our decisions and we are going to stand by those choices. I warned you what was going to happen if you continued to push."

"Nathan and John are on their way." Lee said.

"Thank you, Lee." Gran said.

Doug walked back into the house and saw the standoff in the kitchen/dining room area. He walked over and stood with Jack. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he knew that he would stand with Jack no matter what.

"Elizabeth, boys." Gran said. "Go downstairs and get ready. I know that JP and Doug need to shower. Then you can relax before you leave."

"Let's go." Lee said.

Lee put his arm around Elizabeth and shielded her from Charlotte. As soon as Lee and Elizabeth had turned and headed down the stairs, Jack turned and followed. Doug followed right behind Jack. As soon as Elizabeth and the boys were out of the kitchen/dining room area, Margaret turned to her daughter and son-in-law.

"I suggest that you both go get your stuff." Gran said. "As soon as Rob gets here, you will be removed."

Thomas stocked off to the office. Charlotte stood her ground and was staring at her mother. What no one knew was that Jack sent everyone else downstairs and he stayed on the steps. He wanted to hear what his mother was saying. He also wanted to be able to defend his grandmother if it was needed. He wasn't going to tolerate his mother continuing to bully everyone.

"How dare you kick me out." Charlotte yelled. "This is my house!"

Gran took a moment and took a deep breath. As much as Gran wanted to lash out, she knew that she needed to remain calm.

"Actually." Gran said. "This is just the house that you grew up in. You have no legal standing to claim this house. You are a guest in this house, so like I said you have no legal standing. As this is still my house, I can kick you out anytime that I want. Your father and I did what we had to to ensure the future of Coal Creek. We know that by giving it to JP, Coal Creek will be here for generations to come."

"You are going to regret this." Charlotte hissed. "JP hasn't followed through with anything and he won't follow through with this and then what are you going to do? This whole place will be gone because you allowed that no good son of mine and his little gold digger fool you."

"Enough!" Jack said.

"JP." Gran said.

"No." Jack said. "I have had enough of her bad mouthing me and putting Elizabeth down. She is done bullying people in this house. Nathan and Grandpa John should be here any moment. I have also called Marcus and he is on his way. Right now, I agree with Doug and Lee that Ma poses a direct threat to me and Elizabeth right now."

"What are you going to do, have me arrested?" Charlotte sneered at Jack.

"If I have to." Jack said.

"You ungrateful little brat." Charlotte said.

Charlotte moved to step closer to Jack, with a hand raised. Before she could reach Jack, a strong pair of arms wrapped around her and pulled her back.

"LET GO OF ME." Charlotte yelled at the top of her lungs.

"Calm down." Rob said.

"I will not calm down." Charlotte yelled. "What the hell! How dare you put your hands on me."

Charlotte's yelling brought Thomas back out of the office. Nathan, John and James walked in shortly after Rob and they were trying to figure out what was going on. Charlotte was still yelling at Rob. Nathan came over and with Rob's help they got Charlotte in handcuffs. Everyone was talking at once and no one was listening, so Gran let out a sharp whistle. Everyone stopped and looked at her.

"Nathan." Gran said. "Please take Jack downstairs and keep him there until I call you."

Nathan moved over toward Jack, but he pulled away from Nathan trying to take his arm.

"Gran?" Jack asked.

"NO!" Gran said with a warning. "I will handle this. Go downstairs, calm down and I will talk to you in a little bit. I expect you to be showered and dressed when I call you."

"Yes, ma'am." Jack said, with his head down.

Jack allowed Nathan to lead him downstairs. Once they were gone, Gran turned to the rest of those standing around.

"Thomas, go get your stuff and bring it down." Gran said.

"I will help." James said.

"What do you want me to do?" John asked.

"Please have a seat." Gran said. "I am sorry you have to see this."

"You don't need to apologize." John said. "I can totally see what is going on and I have witnessed the behavior of my son and daughter-in-law before. I just want to try and make things easier for you."

"Then please arrange for them to leave." Gran said. "I know that you cut them off."

John looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I may have been laying down." Gran said. "But I am not deaf. I heard everything that was going on out here."

"Fine." John said. "I will arrange a helicopter from the airport, but it will cost them. I am not allowing them to continue to live off my dime."

"Do what you need to." Gran said. "But they are leaving and I want them out of Saratoga."

John nodded and grabbed his phone. While Gran was directing people, Rob managed to get Charlotte into a chair and was standing by to make sure that she stayed there. It wasn't long and Thomas and James were back downstairs with their luggage. James set it by the front door and then led Thomas to sit at the table.

"I need to grab my briefcase from the office." Thomas said.

"Fine." James said.

… … … …

As soon as Jack got downstairs, Elizabeth ran to him and wrapped him in a hug. She was crying.

"I am sorry." Elizabeth said. "I will leave. I have been nothing but trouble for you."

"No." Jack said. "I don't want you to leave."

"But …." Elizabeth said.

Jack leaned her back and gave her a quick kiss.

"Just stay here for a second." Jack said.

Before anyone could say anything else, Jack turned around and ran back to his room. They were all looking at each other, not sure what to do. Nathan got everyone to sit down. He knew that they needed to shower and get ready, but they had time. In no time flat, Jack was back standing in front of them.

"Elizabeth Grace Marie Thatcher." Jack said. "Do you love me? Yes or no."

"Yes." Elizabeth said.

"Good." Jack said.

Jack then came and sat on the ottoman in front of Elizabeth. Doug could tell that Jack had something in his hand, so he grabbed his phone and tried to secretly record what was happening. Lee just looked at him, but Doug motioned for him to be quiet. Nathan watched all of this standing a few feet away as he got up when Jack had come back. As far as Jack and Elizabeth were concerned, they were the only ones there.

"I love you more than life itself." Jack said. "If you want to leave I will let you, but it can't be because of something that my mother said or did. What she thinks, wants or demands has no bearing on how I feel about you. Now, do you really want to leave?"

"Not really." Elizabeth said. "I have nowhere to go. I want a future with you, but I don't want you to be fighting with your family."

"They wouldn't have respected my decision regardless of you being here or not." Jack said. "Ma is using you as an excuse because she didn't get her way. I honestly believe that she is incapable of truly caring about others. She puts on a good act, but everything has always been about her."

Jack closed his eyes and slid his hand behind his back. When he opened his hand, Nathan, Doug and Lee all saw the ring. They were all so stunned, they couldn't react. Jack adjusted the ring in his hand and closed it again. He let out a harsh breath and opened his eyes and once again focused on Elizabeth.

"I have said I love you and I want a future with you." Jack said. "I know that we haven't known each other for very long, but I know what I know."