Chapter 332 – Saturday After the Wedding

Saturday morning at the ranch was very different then previous Saturdays. Doug and Nathan were up around six. Both went out and checked on the horses before they left at seven with Andy and Marco. For Doug it was weird being at the ranch, knowing that Jack wasn't there. It was the first time that Doug could remember that happening. As they walked back to the house, they looked at the tents and knew that they would be gone by the time that they got home from the show. Other than Jack and Elizabeth not being there, there would be no evidence that a wedding reception had happened. Doug was thinking about what it was going to be like to face the press after the show. Little did Doug know that Nathan was thinking the same thing.

When Doug and Nathan got back to the house, they were greeted by James and Gran.

"Morning boys." Gran said.

"The horses ready to go?" James asked.

"Yes." Doug said. "I was just thinking it was weird waking up knowing that Jack wasn't here."

"I can see that." James said. "Because you have always gone with him."

Doug nodded.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Gran said. "We have a ton of the fruit from last night out in the fridge. I can make eggs. There are still some waffles."

"I was thinking of making some waffles with some fruit." Nathan said.

"I can get that." Gran said.

"No, stay sitting." Nathan said. "I can make my own breakfast."

"Okay." Gran said. "You know that I am going to miss having you all here."

"I know." Nathan said. "But you are having your morning coffee and you should be able to sit and enjoy that."

"Thank you." Gran said. "I am going to pack a bunch of the fruit and veggies from last night in the cooler for today. Is there anything else that you want me to bring?"

"Are there any donuts or brownies left?" Doug asked.

"I think there are plenty of both." Gran said.

"Please." Doug said, with a smile.

"Of course." Gran said. "I know how you like your sweets. I don't know what they are going to have for food options, so I am also going to pack some sandwiches."

"Sounds good." Nathan said.

"Don't forget the protein bars for Jack." Doug said.

"I won't." Gran said. "I will also pack his water and Gatorade."

"Thank you." Doug said.

"I already got a message from him saying that he is going to have Devin bring him later." Nathan said. "So we don't need to stop and pick them up."

"I am glad." James said. "They deserve to have some time alone."

"I am still surprised he is coming at all." Doug said.

"You know how he is when he makes a commitment." James said.

"I know." Doug said. "But I would think spending time with his new wife would rate higher."

"From what she said." Gran said. "She wants him to jump and so he is going to do it."

"Okay." Doug said.

"I know it is not what we would do." Gran said. "But if they are both okay with it, then it's fine."

Doug nodded. Nathan and Doug made waffles and a bowl of fruit for their breakfast. They sat at the table with some coffee and ate while Gran and James went about what they had been doing. As Doug and Nathan were eating, Frank and Father Mark both came up.

"Father Mark, are you going with us today?" James asked.

"I am not sure." Father Mark said. "I need to take care of a few things. I might stay and do that and then see. Any word from Jack?"

"He is going to have Devin bring him and Elizabeth later." Nathan said.

"Okay." Father Mark said.

"Are you still going to do a Mass here tonight?" James asked.

"Yes." Father Mark said. "Especially with me leaving this coming week."

"And you know that you are more than welcome to stay here until then." Gran said.

"I know." Father Mark said. "I am not sure what I am going to do. I know that I have to go back to the house and pack things for Rome, but otherwise I might just stay here."

"Okay." Gran said. "Just let me know either way."

"I will." Father Mark said.

Frank and Father Mark also made some waffles with fruit. As they were eating, James, Trish and John all came down. Gran got up and pulled some fruit to put on the table. Trish went and started waffles for the three of them. As that was happening, Maddie and Missy came up dressed for the day.

"Morning." Maddie chirped.

"Someone is in a good mood." James B said.

"Of course I am." Maddie said. "The sun is shining and I get to ride today."

"Good way to look at things." James said.

"Thank you Grandpa." Maddie said. "I am going to miss being here when we go home in a few days."

"And we are going to miss having you here." James said.

"Hopefully we will be back for Thanksgiving." Trish said. "At least that is the plan right now."

"Good." James said.

… … … …

By quarter after eight the group was ready to go, they loaded up and headed out. Nathan took Doug, Lee and Frank. Trish and James took the girls in Frank's SUV while James and Margaret rode with John in the towncar with Peter and Andrew. The group made their way there, knowing that Devin would bring Jack and Elizabeth later. Andrew called Chris and gave them the option of what to do and they opted to stay in town for a while and keep an eye on things. They would connect with Devin when he brought Jack and Elizabeth. Andrew was fine with that.

Father Mark stayed back at the ranch to work on some things that he needed to take care of before leaving. Gran was worried about him, but he assured her that there was plenty of food in the house and he had his truck and could go into town. He promised to stay in touch and let them know what his plan was. James convinced his wife that Father Mark was fine and he promised to stay in touch, so she relented. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and told him to stay in touch. Father Mark agreed because he knew that she was just worried about him with everything going on.

As they were heading to Schuylerville, John looked at James and Margaret.

"What is the deal with Father Mark?" John asked. "He normally jumped at the chance to spend the day with family."

"He is struggling." James said. "With being pulled from public ministry. While the trip to Rome and the Vatican is a great opportunity, he is looking at more as a punishment because he didn't ask to take a sabbatical, but is being forced to do it."

"Oh." John said. "Is this related to the issue earlier this summer?"

"Not directly." James said. "This has to do with someone making an accusation against him. From what we have been told, it was Jenna and her friends. They took some pictures of Jack and Elizabeth the first weekend when Father Mark was praying over them and gave Jack a hug. From my understanding, the photos were doctored and made to look worse. It is why JP did what he did with Pennybaker, Kensington and the group. From what Father Mark said, the bishop knows that it was an attempt to hurt JP and Elizabeth, but at the same time, his hands were tied and he needed to follow the protocol put in place when an accusation is made."

"Oh." John said. "That is why JP was so heated."

"Yes." Margaret said. "He was very upset when he learned about it."

"I heard about the call to Devin." John said. "But I didn't hear what was behind it. I was hoping to get a chance to talk to JP about it."

"He refuses to talk about it." James said. "I have tried."

"I will talk to him." John said. "Even if I have to go to the city after school has started."

"Okay." James said.

"Is there anything I can do to make things better?" John asked.

"I don't know." James said. "I know that Nathan expressed some concern about Father Mark being alone in Rome. We tried to explain that he wouldn't really be alone, but at the same time Nathan was still concerned."

"I will talk to Father Mark." John said. "I can send an undercover team."

"I know that JP offered to have Devin look into that." James said.

"Okay." John said. "I will have a conversation with Devin about it."

"Thank you." James said. "I think that the only thing that we can do is pray for all of them and hope that something good comes out of the trip to Rome."

"I will continue to do that." John said. "I will also make sure that Father Mark has my contact information in case he needs anything."

"Thank you again." James said.

"Yes, thank you." Margaret said. "I know that Father Mark expressed concern about what would happen to him if he wasn't cleared. I have tried not to think about that and assure him that everything will work out."

"I will have a conversation with the bishop as well." John said. "I understand that there are protocols in place and he has to do certain things, but if he knows that it was designed to hurt JP, then sending Father Mark away is doing that."

"I tried to argue that as well." James said. "But from what I understand, this is an opportunity for him to get some continuing education and has been encouraged to come back with a renewed faith."

"Then that is what I will pray for." John said. "I know that he has had his heart set on being a priest since he was young, but I hope he knows that there will always be a place for him if he wants to do something else. I know that he can ride and I know that JP would hire him to work with the horses."

"I don't think that would make Father Mark happy." James said. "I think he might enjoy it, but in the long run, I know that he was called to be a priest. It is the only thing he has talked about since he was seven years old."

"Then I will do everything in my power to make sure that he can continue to do that." John said.

"Thank you." James said.

… … … …

When they got to Schuylerville, James and Trish got the kids checked in. Trish had to sign for the girls. James had the paperwork for the horses if they needed. They didn't register JP and would allow him to do that when he arrived in case he chose to not come.

After getting registered, Maddie and Missy went to check on their horses. James looked at Margaret and said that he would be in touch and to find a good spot. John, Margaret, Trish, James, Frank and Lee went to find a spot to sit. Andrew and Peter went with, helping to carry things. The coolers were taken up with them. Gran also grabbed a couple of the umbrellas to provide some shade. John spotted a few members of the press and pointed them out to Andrew and Peter. Both made a note and agreed to keep an eye on things. John knew that there were a couple of undercover teams, but he hadn't seen them as of yet and he was fine with that.

As James, Maddie and Missy got to the trailers, they saw the horses were under the shade. The girls immediately went to greet their horses and then sat until they could go walk the course. Doug and Nathan were not that far behind. They had stuck around for a moment to see who else was around. The lady let them know that Sugar Creek hadn't checked in yet, but Oliver Kennedy was signed up as well as Connor Walker. Doug thanked the lady for the information and headed to the trailer.

… … … …

Back in Saratoga, Jack and Elizabeth got up and ordered breakfast to their room. Elizabeth also texted Caitlin that she could come anytime. They got their dress clothes ready to hand over to Caitlin, but weren't dressed in more than pajamas and robes at that point. Jack was still debating if he wanted to go at all, especially when he saw the text from Devin that there was press in the lobby and there were reports of press gathering at the show as well. There was a part of Jack that just wanted to hide, but he also wanted to jump. He wasn't ashamed that he married Elizabeth. Honestly if it wasn't for the ongoing problems with Pennybaker and Kensington, he would shout it from the rooftops.

Caitlin arrived just as their breakfast arrived. She told them to sit and eat while she gathered up their clothes they had put on the couch. She had the garment bags for both outfits with instructions on what to do. She gathered the stuff and wished Jack and Elizabeth the best. She did tell them that there were a number of press in the lobby, but she didn't speak to them and didn't plan on it. Jack thanked her and Caitlin left them to eat.

"That was great of Caitlin to do that." Jack said.

"Abigail insisted on it." Elizabeth said. "She said that it would be easier than trying to figure out what to with the dress clothes as we are headed for Minnesota. Abigail saw no reason to take the dress clothes to Minnesota."

"Thank God for Abigail." Jack said. "She is on top of everything."

"She is an amazing lady." Elizabeth said. "Bill is lucky to have found her."

"I am happy for him." Jack said. "I remember Nora a little, but not much. I think I might have met Noah, but I am not sure."

"They were lucky to find love a second time." Elizabeth said. "They were even luckier to get Becky and Cody."

"I don't know what would have happened to the kids if Bill and Abigail hadn't taken them in." Jack said. "It wasn't a good situation, but the kids seem to be thriving with Bill and Abigail. Cody is so little that he might not even remember the bad they came from. I know that it has affected Becky and she has been in counseling to help her deal with things."

"Glad they got her counseling." Elizabeth said. "Cody may be small, but somewhere in his head he knows that he was in a bad situation and that might come out later."

"I think so as well." Jack said. "Bill and Abigail know what to look out for, but they are just going to continue to shower the kids with love. I know that they would love to have another, but I don't think it is in the cards for Abigail. From the little that Bill has said, she had trouble conceiving Peter and they haven't been lucky in all the years they were married."

"Have they considered fertility treatments?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know." Jack said. "I know that is expensive and it just might not be in their budget. I am sure I could help, but I doubt that is what Bill or Abigail would want. It is a very private matter and they don't talk about it. They have left it in God's hands and I know that they are open to adopting one or more."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I wasn't sure if fertility treatments were allowed in the church."

"It gets complicated." Jack said. "While it is, at the same time, I don't think it is encouraged. We can talk to Father Mark about that, but I don't think we will have problems. We are young and healthy. If there is a problem, just know that I will do whatever I can to make you happy. If that is the case, we can go down that route. But I think we don't need to worry about it as we haven't even been married for twenty-four hours."

"You are right." Elizabeth said. "You aren't the only one that thinks several steps ahead at times."

Jack just smiled at Elizabeth.

"Changing the subject." Elizabeth said. "Do you still want to go to the show?"

"Part of me says no." Jack said. "I just want to hide and not deal with the press, but at the same time, I don't want to let them dictate my life."

"I hear you." Elizabeth said. "It is completely your decision."

"Thank you." Jack said. "Let's just finish breakfast before I make a decision."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

… … … …