Chapter 299 – Sunday and Monday
Jack and Elizabeth got downstairs and she helped him get settled on the couch. Doug looked over and just raised an eyebrow at Jack.
"It is just bruised." Jack said. "This is more a precaution to make me slow down and let it rest."
"Then you will rest." Doug said.
Jack stuck his tongue out at Doug.
"I know you." Doug said. "You have a hard time taking it easy, especially when you know that there is stuff to do. Injured or not, you don't know how to relax."
Jack stuck his tongue out at Doug again.
"I promise." Jack said, looking at Elizabeth. "I will rest for the seventy-two hours like I am supposed to."
"You will rest as long as the doctor tells you." Elizabeth said, firmly.
"Yes, ma'am." Jack said, giving Elizabeth a dimpled grin.
"I mean it." Elizabeth said. "I was so scared when Katie told me that you were hurt and being taken to the hospital. I couldn't really see what happened at the in gate from where I was."
"I am sorry." Jack said. "I didn't mean to scare you. Everything happened so fast, but Doug and Nathan protected me as best they could when Bandit reared up. I ended up hitting Ghost on the way down and immediately moved away from where their hooves were so I didn't get stomped on or kicked. I knew I hit my shoulder and jammed my pinky, but I was more worried about not getting hurt more. Again, I am sorry I scared you."
"Forgiven." Elizabeth said.
Jack leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. They then sat back and watched the baseball game that Doug and Lee had on. Jack and Elizabeth quietly talked about things as they watched the game. They saw Nathan come down and head to take a shower and change. Elizabeth asked Jack if he wanted to shower and change. He said he would later, because he would need to take a pain pill and headed to bed at that time.
The rest of Saturday night was quiet at the ranch. Everyone was worried about Jack because they all knew that he had a hard time slowing down and relaxing. They were hoping that he would actually listen and take the time to heal. John and James both knew that Jack would feel like he would need to push through and try and ride the following weekend because he had committed to, but they also knew that Nathan was serious about protecting Jack, so maybe that might work to their advantage this time. Gran was also worried about her grandson, but she knew that he was surrounded by his friends and they would do what they could to protect him.
… … … …
Sunday ended up being a busy day with the races going on. Jack, Elizabeth, Nathan and Father Mark stayed back at the ranch while everyone else went to Mass with John and James going to the track afterwards. Father Mark said a private Mass at the house for Jack, Elizabeth and Nathan. Then while Jack sat and talked, they got things ready for lunch. The plan had been for it to be a quiet day at the ranch, but by the time that Gran and everyone else got home from church, the phone had been ringing off the hook with reporters and other people wanting to check on Jack or speak to him. There were calls from his parents who were upset that he wasn't picking up his cell phone. They had let most of the calls go to the machine after the first three reporters had called. Jack didn't want to deal with his parents and Father Mark assured him he had the right to not talk to anyone that he didn't want.
After lunch, Jack and Elizabeth went downstairs to relax and watch the races. Doug, Lee, Nathan and Father Mark decided to go on a ride and then joined Jack and Elizabeth downstairs to watch the end of the races. The twins worked on homework and piano work. Normally they wouldn't do homework on a Sunday, but they wanted to work ahead so they wouldn't have to worry about things as much with the show in Cooperstown and then the wedding still coming up. Trish and Gran worked on some baking and meal planning. The phone continued to ring and if they didn't know the number, they let it go to the machine. Thomas and Charlotte also tried calling Gran's cell phone several times, but she didn't pick up. Jack did call Devin and spoke to him. Trish had kept her husband up to date so he wouldn't worry. Lee had also let his parents know, in case they heard something. It was a good thing people let others know that Jack was okay because it was all over the news that Jack had been injured at the show and taken to the hospital the day before. The reporters had no information about Jack's condition or where he was, but speculated that he was in the hospital because they had seen the helicopter. They assumed that he was injured and being held in the hospital either in Schenectady or in Albany. Devin had let Jack know that there was a lot of speculation online and that it might be a good thing to put out a statement. Jack promised to talk to his grandfathers later in the day, but at that time, he didn't want anything said.
When John and James got home from the races, they spoke to Jack and agreed that a statement being put out might be a good thing, especially since they had gotten several questions from reporters while they were at the races. James and John also informed everyone that there was a large crowd outside the main gate again, because they were waiting for a sighting of Jack coming back. Jack wasn't happy, but agreed to a statement that he received minor injuries while at the show in Schenectady and was taking the time to heal and hoped to jump again before heading back to start school in August. Secretly, Jack was hoping to jump in Cooperstown, but knew that the Albany show was going to be more realistic. He felt bad about it, but knew that things were out of his control. John was sure that he knew that Jack wanted to jump the coming weekend, but was hoping that he wouldn't and just wait until the Albany show.
… … … …
Monday started like normal with most of the gang going out early to work with the horses. Jack stayed back at the insistence of Nathan and Father Mark. He wasn't happy about it, but also knew that he was limited in what he could do. Father Mark and Elizabeth helped clean up from everyone's breakfast while Jack sat. No one was letting Jack do anything and he was getting frustrated with it, but he was still in the immobilizer so it was hard. He sat with his laptop while the others cleaned up from breakfast or worked with the horses. Trish ended up making a run into town to get some groceries and drop off a few things for Gran.
The biggest thing that happened on Monday was that Jack, Elizabeth and Frank sat down and went over the plat maps for the new properties. Frank had some ideas and Jack seemed to like the way that Frank thought. They agreed that they couldn't do anything until the professionals had weighed in. Jack was excited because the horticulturalists were coming in the next week. Jack was excited to go through the property with them. He knew that it was going to take some time to get things going, but he was willing to invest the time and money that it took to get the things that he wanted. Jack was also glad that Frank seemed committed to the time that it was going to take to get things the way they wanted. Jack, Elizabeth and Frank also talked about where they wanted the house and Frank's house. They knew that the final decisions wouldn't be made until they were able to get on the property. They also talked about the house that Frank picked out as well as the RV/motorhome that he thought would work. Jack was pleased with the choices that Frank brought him and liked both so let him choose what he thought would suit him best. They went with the fifth wheel RV since it would have a little more use since they could pull it with one of the trucks.
Monday night Jack and Elizabeth sat and talked with Father Mark. Both had wanted to check in with Jack and see how he was doing. After supper was cleaned up, the trio went to sit in the library to talk. Everyone understood, especially with the wedding getting closer there were things that they needed to talk about.
"So how are you really doing?" Father Mark asked, looking at Jack.
"So so," Jack said. "Better today than it was yesterday, but it still hurts to move it."
"You know that you got lucky." Father Mark said. "That could have been so much worse from what Doug and Nathan have said."
"I know." Jack said. "I am just glad that it wasn't. I also know that Grandpa completely overreacted by calling in the helicopter and taking me to Albany."
"He was worried." Father Mark said.
"I know." Jack said. "And I guess I understand why he wanted me to go to Albany. From what Devin said, the reporters almost overran the ER in Schenectady. Things were much better controlled in Albany. We didn't even see one reporter, because we came in and left through the ambulance bay."
"So you are really starting to feel better?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am." Jack said. "I know that it will take a few more days, but I have no doubt that I will be fine. I haven't had a headache since I came home on Saturday. I took it easy yesterday and today while I was taking the pain killers yesterday. I stretched it out today, but will take one tonight to sleep and then try and go without it tomorrow."
"Please be careful." Elizabeth said. "There is no point in pushing yourself. No one is going to be upset if you don't ride this weekend."
"I know." Jack said. "But I will feel like I am letting Grandpa down."
"But he won't think you are." Father Mark said. "He will understand if you are hurt."
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I am sure that everyone will understand."
"So what is that you wanted to talk about?" Father Mark said. "I know that I wanted to check in with you, but it sounded like there was something that you wanted to talk about."
"There was, but …." Jack said.
"But what?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack sat back and leaned his head back against the back of the couch, letting out a deep sigh.
"I just don't know if I should say anything." Jack said.
"Say anything about what?" Father Mark asked.
"What I was thinking on Saturday." Jack said. "I have thought some more about it and I just don't know if I let things get to me or if there is something to what I was thinking."
"What were you thinking about on Saturday?" Father Mark asked.
"About how much I have been taking on." Jack said. "About how much has changed and what I want from the future. I was thinking about what if this had been worse or if something else had happened."
"But something worse didn't happen." Elizabeth said. "I will admit I was very worried when you got hurt, but I also believed that you would be okay. I also know that everyone did everything they could to keep you safe, but things happen. I agree that you have taken on a lot and I am worried about the amount of stress that you have put on yourself, but others have assured me that you are very capable. Still I worry. We all agree that a lot has changed in the last few months in our lives and there are more changes still to come. We can still slow down if you want, no one would be upset if we pushed the wedding back."
"Is that what you want?" Jack asked.
"I want you to be happy." Elizabeth said. "I am just worried that you might be having doubts. I had my doubts when you first asked me, but I have realized that the reasons that everyone else has for us to wait don't mean anything. We have a connection, we know we belong together."
"I agree we have a connection." Jack said. "Maybe it is just me finally just catching up with everything that has happened. Getting hurt has forced me to slow down long enough to think about everything that has happened. It is not that I have doubts about Elizabeth and I being together, but just thinking about everything that has happened and how much has changed."
"There is nothing wrong with thinking about things." Father Mark said. "Let me ask you some questions."
Father Mark turned and looked directly at Jack.
"Do you love Elizabeth?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to spend your life with her?"
"Yes."
"Okay." Father Mark said. "That is what matters. You say you don't have doubts, but just have been thinking about things."
"Yes." Jack said. "I think the last couple of days have been the first time I have really sat down and thought about things since I came up here. I feel like I have just been reacting to everything and everyone around me, not thinking things through like I normally do. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret asking Elizabeth to marry me, but I think it finally has sunk in how much my life has changed and will continue to change in the next few months."
"I agree that a lot has changed and there are more changes coming." Elizabeth said.
"Thank you for understanding that I have just been thinking about things." Jack said.
"I would be worried about you if you weren't thinking about things." Father Mark said. "You have been so busy trying to keep everyone safe and take care of everyone/everything that I am not surprised you haven't had time to sit and think about what has happened. You weren't very good about that before and I am sure that your parents and Tommy pushing this summer have only made that worse."
"I guess." Jack said.
Elizabeth picked up Jack's hand.
"Do you still want to get married in just over two weeks?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack lifted Elizabeth's hand to his lips and kissed it.
"More than anything." Jack said. "I didn't mean to make you think I had doubts, I was just trying to express that I had been thinking about how much everything in my life has changed in the last few months. Three months ago I had no intention of jumping competitively again. I also had no intention of getting involved with anyone. I had planned to enjoy college, living with Doug and Lee. I had been planning to take over Coal Creek and Thornton Inc, but there had been no plan to announce anything this summer. The original plan was for me to just quietly take over on paper this summer and make an announcement next summer at the earliest. But then everything else happened, the Miller property. I had already bid on some of the other parcels, but knew that I would need more to do what I wanted. I thought since there was land available round the ranch, it was better to snap it up then let someone else get it and put my plans for expansion on hold for who knows how many years."
"I can't wait to marry you." Elizabeth said, leaning over to give Jack a quick kiss.
"I can't either." Jack said.
The trio sat there for another couple hours talking about various things, including some more about all the changes that had happened that summer. By the time they said prayers and were ready to head to bed, most everyone else in the house had already turned it. Frank was the only one that stayed up. He was working on his laptop when Father Mark, Jack and Elizabeth came downstairs.
"Have a nice talk?" Frank asked.
"We did." Jack said. "We didn't really talk about anything much, but yet we covered a lot, if that makes sense."
"Yes it does." Frank said. "Sometimes just talking about what has been going on you cover a lot more than you think."
"Exactly." Father Mark said.
"Was there something that is keeping you up?" Jack asked.
"Not really." Frank said, before going back to his laptop.
Father Mark looked at Jack and Elizabeth. Jack nodded and took Elizabeth's hand and led her to her room. Jack gave her a kiss and then went to his own room to get ready for bed.
… … … …