Chapter 174 – Frank, Katie and Opal Arrive
Jack did what Nathan said and when Jack closed his eyes, Nathan popped the knuckle back into place. Jack let out a harsh breath, but didn't say anything else. He immediately put the ice pack back on his hand.
"Might as well watch us." Nathan said. "We can help untack the horses, but I also think you need to take it easy and not work out."
"I was just going to do leg work today." Jack said.
"We will see." Nathan said.
Nathan went back to his horse and Jack took a seat on the top rail of the sand ring to watch Nathan and Doug. Marco wandered over at some point and saw Jack just sitting there. He was going to say something until he saw Jack holding the ice pack in his hand.
"Who did you hit?" Marco asked.
"An asshole on Saturday night." Jack said. "Then a hay bale earlier. Nathan popped it back into place and I agreed that if it wasn't better on Thursday I would go in. We are leaving tomorrow to Ontario tomorrow and will be back Thursday afternoon."
"Fine." Marco said. "You are a big boy and I will not say anything more."
"Thanks." Jack said. "I have already had the riot act read to me for hitting Bouchard on Saturday."
"Did you learn anything?" Marco asked.
"Don't hit someone in the nose and expect to not get hurt." Jack said.
"Not want I meant." Marco said. "But good lesson."
Jack just gave him a half grin before turning back to watch Nathan and Doug in the sand ring.
"He sure looks good on Athena." Marco said. "And she doesn't seem to have lost a step."
"I agree on both accounts." Jack said. "Think I should give Athena to Nathan? I mean she likes him more than me."
"Does he have a place and the means to keep her?" Marco asked.
"I would make sure that he did." Jack said. "Besides, I was hoping to convince Nathan to stay on. Maybe depending on school, we could move Athena down to the city otherwise he can keep her here."
"Your horse, your decision." Marco said. "Just be sure to talk to your grandparents before you do anything."
"I will." Jack said.
Marco stood there for a few more minutes then walked off to check a few other things. He stopped at the round pen, untacked Honey and turned her out to graze in one of the other areas. He then took a moment and did the same for Bandit. Jack looked and was going to say something, but Marco waved him off. Marco left the tack on the rail of the round pen for the boys to put away and then he headed back to the arena.
After Gran left the table, Lee went back to working on what he had been doing with the show and looking at Sugar Creek. Elizabeth had been looking at things online. She was not only doing a little research on Catholic weddings and what was required of the Catholic Church when it came to marriage, but she also wanted to start looking at wedding dresses. If their petition was granted, she knew that Jack would push for an August wedding. It wasn't that she didn't want to get married, but she didn't think that they would be able to get everything done in time. She knew that Jack had ordered the books that Father Mark had suggested. She also found a couple of others that she ordered when she placed the order from Amazon for the stuff for Opal. That reminded Elizabeth that she needed to remind Gran.
"Gran." Elizabeth said, getting up.
"Yes." Gran said.
"I just wanted to let you know that there might be a few packages arriving." Elizabeth said. "Jack ordered a couple of books that Father Mark suggested. I also ordered some stuff. It might arrive Thursday morning before we get back, but I am not sure."
"Thank you." Gran said. "If anything comes, I will make sure to put it in either yours or JP's room."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I think that they will have Jack's name on them, since I used his card."
"Okay." Gran said. "What did you order?"
"I found a couple other books that I think will help me." Elizabeth said. "I also ordered a couple more books for Opal and some things for the kids for the Fourth."
"That was nice of you." Gran said. "What books did you order for yourself?"
"Just a few books that I found about Catholicism and marriage." Elizabeth said. "Like I told Jack, I don't know if I will become Catholic, but I want to at least learn a little more about it."
"Let me know if you have any questions." Gran said. "I also think that there are some books about Catholicism in the library."
"I will look." Elizabeth said. "I think that the ones that I ordered I would have ordered anyway, so I can make notes and mark sections as I need."
Gran nodded. She knew it wasn't an easy decision to become Catholic for someone that grew up in a different faith tradition. She hoped and prayed that Elizabeth would become Catholic as she knew that it would make things easier when they had children, but she also knew that it wasn't impossible to have a mixed faith marriage, but it did make things harder. She had seen it with friends and neighbors. Honestly, Gran just wanted Elizabeth to be happy with whatever she chose to do.
After Nathan and Doug got done with the horses, they untacked them, brushed them down and turned them out to enjoy the sunshine. They picked up the saddles that Marco had left from Bandit and Honey. Then they were all done and had left instructions for the horses, they headed to the house.
"How is your hand?" Nathan asked.
"A little better." Jack said. "I know that I shouldn't have hit Bouchard, but he had it coming and I would do it again. I think the problem was that I used too much of my knuckles and that is why I got hurt. I should have held my hand differently."
"Or maybe you should learn to control your temper a little." Nathan teased.
"Good luck with that." Doug snipped.
Jack shot him a dirty look.
"Don't give me that look." Doug said. "You forget how many times I have had to stop you from hitting someone because it wasn't worth the trouble it would bring."
Jack ducked his head because he knew that Doug was right. The boys didn't say anything else as they headed to the house. When they got there, they went in the downstairs entrance and straight to their room to change into workout clothes. Nathan just looked at Jack when he came into the gym after them.
"I promise I will be careful." Jack said. "I am not lifting with my hand. I am only going to work my legs today."
"Fine." Nathan said.
The boys got in a good workout and then showered. Jack was just heading upstairs, when his phone beeped. He looked at it and saw that it was a message from Frank.
"Everything okay?" Nathan asked.
"Frank just messaged me and they are just coming into Saratoga." Jack said.
"So they should be here in about twenty minutes or so." Doug said.
"Yeah." Jack said.
"Then we should go help get set up for lunch." Doug said.
The boys headed upstairs and Jack immediately let Gran know. She asked him to text his grandfather and then to let security know to let them pull up to the house. Jack did as he was asked and then messaged Chris that Frank was almost there. Chris quickly messaged back that they would be there in an hour, if they weren't done eating that was fine. Jack told Gran and the others what Chris said. Between Elizabeth and the boys, it didn't take long to get everything ready for lunch. When Jack saw the ooey gooey bars, he tried to sneak one, but Gran slapped his hand.
"You can have one with lunch." Gran said.
"Fine." Jack said.
Elizabeth giggled at the face that Jack made.
"Be good and I might grab one for you as well." Elizabeth whispered.
Jack smiled and gave Elizabeth a quick kiss.
"JP." Gran said.
"Yes." Jack said.
"What was your plan for Katie's apartment?" Gran asked. "Are you going to give her a key card or add her prints?"
"Both." Jack said. "For now, Chris will have a key card for her. We will add her prints later this week. We will also explain to her that the only people that have access are Grandpa, you and me. Well, security had a keycard and code, but still. We won't go in there unless it is an emergency."
"Good." Gran said. "Just so that she understands."
"I will make sure." Jack said.
"What about Opal?" Nathan said. "I think you need to show her how to use the print and add her. She should be able to go to and from her place with freedom."
"He is right." Gran said.
"Then that is what we will do." Jack said. "You said that she is five?"
"Yes." Nathan said. "She is quite smart for a five year old and with there being security, I know that Katie won't be too worried about her exploring things."
"Good." Jack said. "We will just have to remind her that she can't go to certain places and not to cross closed fences."
"If you explain it, she will understand." Nathan said.
As they were talking, Jack got a message from security that they were at the gate and headed up to the house. Jack and Nathan went out to meet them. Frank pulled up to where Jack and Nathan were standing. Nathan let out a low whistle.
"He had a nicer vehicle than I do." Nathan said.
"Well." Jack said. "He is older than you and I might have helped him get it. You want to upgrade your vehicle, all you have to do is say the word."
"I get what you are saying." Nathan said. "But you have already done enough. So what is that a Buick Encore or Enclave?"
"It is a two thousand fourteen Buick Enclave." Jack said.
"Nice." Nathan said. "Buick makes a nice car."
Before either of them could say anything else, Frank and Katie got out and she immediately turned to the back door to get Opal.
"Frank." Jack said. "Good to see you again. So glad that you could do this for me."
"My pleasure." Frank said.
"Frank." Jack said. "I want you to meet my good friend, Nathan Grant. Nathan met Frank Hogan."
"Nice to meet you." Nathan said, holding out his hand.
"Same." Frank said, shaking Nathan's hand.
"Jack." Nathan said. "Please meet Katherine McGrady and her daughter Opal. Katie, Opal, I want you to meet my good friend Jack Thornton."
"Nice to meet you." Jack said, holding out his hand.
"Thank you for this opportunity." Katie said.
"It was my pleasure." Jack said. "I have been wanting to get started on going more natural for a few years."
"If you could please show me where I am staying." Katie said. "I need to find some lunch for us."
"Please come in the house." Jack said. "All of you. We have you in an apartment, down over the stable, but I insist that you come eat with us and meet everyone else. You will be working closely with my grandfather. Also, my grandmother had insisted that she take you shopping to get groceries and things. There are a few more things that they realized you will need for the apartment."
"That is not necessary." Katie said. "I have some food we packed."
"Is it in a cooler?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." Katie said.
"Then it will be fine." Nathan said. "Best not to argue with Gran, you won't win. We held lunch until you all arrived, so please come inside."
"Sounds good." Frank said. "I was just going to grab something on the way back South."
Jack just smiled as he indicated for people to head in the side door. The group headed inside. Nathan noticed Katie looking around and he was sure that she was feeling some of what he had felt seeing the house for the first time, so he put his hand on her arm.
"Just breathe." Nathan said. "Jack and his grandparents are wonderful people. They may have money, but they are very down to earth."
"I just don't want to do something to ruin this opportunity." Katie said.
"You won't." Nathan said. "Jack is great and just be yourself and they will see what the rest of us see."
Katie smiled at Nathan and they continued inside.