Dear Readers, When I started these vignettes, I intended to only write the first one. Over the past seven months, I have enjoyed writing the stories, and reading your reviews, so much that, somehow, one vignette turned into seven. I hope you enjoyed all of them.

Below is the final chapter to vignette 7.

Chapter 10 -The Rules of Married Life

"I noticed you seeing the Mounties off earlier today. Everyone looked happy. I guess last night's supper turned out well", Abigail said with a smile as she stopped by Elizabeth's table at the Café.

"Abigail, it turned out so nice. Thanks again for helping with the pot pie."

"And your idea that Jack might regret being married? Something in your smile makes me think that you're not worried about that anymore."

"You were right. I was just being a little sensitive. I guess it's natural for every couple at some point. I remember how Jack felt about Charles for the longest time", Elizabeth responded.

"Jack wasn't the only one to feel insecure over another person. I seem to remember how you felt around Rosemary when she first came to town. And let's not forget when Faith Carter came to nurse Lee after his sawmill accident", Abigail responded with a grin.

"Please can we just forget that! I mean really, was it really necessary for her to come to Hope Valley? There are plenty of other nurses in this country. I don't see why she had to be the one to come here! ", Elizabeth said in an exasperated tone.

Abigail laughed. "Well, you got over it and it just showed how much Jack cared about you."

"I suppose. But I could have done without the drama in my life", Elizabeth said before putting that incident out of her mind.

"What's that you have there?" Abigail asked when she saw the small thin package tied with a ribbon laying on the table.

"It's a gift from Jack. I found it on my desk when I got to school this morning", Elizabeth said happily.

"Aren't you going to open it?"

"I will when I get home. I'm pretty sure that I already know what it is. I just don't know what it is this time," she said as she looked thoughtfully at the small box. A smile formed on her lips.

"I better get going home so you can get ready for the dinner crowd", Elizabeth added as she gathered her things.

Abigail shook her head in amusement as Elizabeth walked out the door. She knows what it is but doesn't know what it is? Heaven help Jack, he certainly has an interesting wife.

Elizabeth climbed down the wooden steps of the Café and waved to several students who were playing in the street in front of the businesses. Some of them should most definitely have been studying for tomorrow's test instead of chasing a ball, but she wasn't going to scold anyone on such a beautiful autumn late afternoon.

As she walked down the dirt road towards the cottage, Elizabeth enjoyed the view outside of town. The tall grasses on either side of the road were interspersed with pink and yellow wild flowers, which in turn were buzzing with bees. Off in the distance, eagles flew across the sky to land in tall treetops in the forest. It was the perfect time of day to enjoy the sky as it changed from a beautiful blue in the east to a gorgeous orange in the west as the sun began to set.

Elizabeth felt the presence of something beside her and looked down. Rip, with his lazy attitude, was padding along beside her.

"Hello there, Rip. I'm guessing that Jack saw me walking home alone and sent you to walk with me", she said with a chuckle.

Elizabeth turned slightly and looked over her shoulder. She couldn't see Jack, but she smiled anyway. She was pretty sure that he had watched from the jail until Rip had caught up to her.

When Elizabeth approached the cottage's front door, Comet stood up and standoffishly greeted her from the porch. Before opening the door, Elizabeth shooed at the kitten until it finally dropped the mouse it held in its mouth. Jack does not need another mouse as a present!, Elizabeth thought as she shook her head in exasperation at Comet.

The front door stuck slightly as Elizabeth pushed on it and she had it give it another nudge before it opened. Elizabeth had gotten used to it by now. Just like she had gotten used to the creaking of floorboards in the bedroom, and the small crack in the kitchen window. It was an old cottage but they were fixing it up over time.

She set her books and basket by the small entrance table, and looked around the simple cottage. It was only slightly bigger than her bedroom in Hamilton. Elizabeth actually liked the small size because, unlike her home in Hamilton, she had to keep this one clean.

Elizabeth realized that, not once in their marriage, had Jack complained about helping with chores, or when dinner was undercooked, or when dinner was overcooked, or even the few times she had been so busy reading a good book that she had forgotten to make dinner all together.

Moving across the small front room into the kitchen, Elizabeth picked up the two bowls from the floor and set them into the sink. Pulling and pushing the metal handle up and down, she pumped water until they were full and then set them back on the floor for Comet and Rip, who quickly began lapping the fresh clear water.

Next, she reached into the cupboard and pulled out a scrap of food, which she gave to the basset hound. "Here you go, boy. It's your payment for doing an admirable job escorting me home", she said as he took it from her hand.

She smiled when she thought about how he was doing a good job as a guard dog. As good a job as could be expected of a lazy dog named after Rip Van Winkle.

With the animals taken care off, Elizabeth opened up the icebox and examined the fish which Jack had caught earlier that morning before he left for work. If Jack can get up early to catch it, I guess I can prepare it, she thought as she wrinkled up her face at the idea of cleaning out the fish.

She took the last of the three potatoes from the bottom of the potato bin, and then reached into the cupboard for an onion. Initially proud of how she had organized the kitchen, she had already learned not to store the two together. Jack and Abigail had laughed last week when Elizabeth had exclaimed in bewilderment how quickly both her onions and potatoes spoiled. "Never store them together", Jack had told her.

"How in the world would you know something like that?", Elizabeth had asked in surprise.

"Every country boy does", he had answered with a shrug.

"Well, I'm not a country boy", she had said in a huff as she had thrown the spoiled food out. She now remembered how Jack had smiled, surveyed her body, and given her a wink when he responded. "No, you most definitely are not".

Before turning to the actual work part of making a meal for this evening, Elizabeth took off her shoes and put on her favorite woolen slippers. Sitting down at the small kitchen table, she untied the ribbon from the small box she had received from Jack that morning. When she lifted off the lid and looked inside, Elizabeth gleefully smiled at the expensive white fabric nestled inside.

She sat for a moment contemplating the gift before carrying it into the bedroom and pulling open her dresser drawer. Initially, she was going to place it next to the others in the drawer, but instead she reached her fingers underneath her folded nightgown and pulled out the single sheet of paper.

Elizabeth sat down on the edge of her bed, holding her gift in one hand and the written advice from the Mountie wives in the other. She had never told Jack about the paper. She didn't know what he'd think about it, and so she kept it a secret. Her only secret from him.

She thought number one was the most important.

Rule number 1: Make every house, however despicable, a warm and cozy home. Well, I've certainly done that. I made my first rag rug, hung curtains, and turned an expensive shawl from Right House department store into a tablecloth. And Bobo and Sally found it warm and cozy here. I've done the wash, kept it clean, made meals. Not to mention I made supper for other Mounties. . . . twice. And well, Jack finds me very warm and cozy so that's good enough.

Rule number 2: Learn to make friends quickly (provided there are other people around). Hmm, I wonder if circus animals count as friends.

Rule number 3: Remember that you have something special to add to every person you meet (this helps when making new friends, see rule number 2) I've added new stories to the student's lives . . . even if their parents weren't always happy about it. And I taught those Mounties a thing or two.

Rule number 4: Be prepared for times when you'll be alone. I'm still scared, but I'm learning. No one said I had to follow all the rules right away. Perfecting a marriage takes time. I suppose I'll always be a little nervous when I'm alone, but I'll learn to defend myself and our home. Jack's teaching me. And he put the lock on the door and the shutters on the window. Act strong and you'll be strong. That's my new motto.

And if I'm really scared, I can always stay with Abigail when Jack's away.

Rule number 5: Learn to adapt to new customs and foods. (Bear can be substituted for deer in many meals, and dried animal dung can be burned as a heat source, but save this as a last resort for warming a home. See rule number 1.) Okay, I'm NEVER going to burn dried animal dung as a heat source! The Mountie wives can just forget that little piece of advice.

But I did learn what to do about lice. So, I suppose that's adapting. Gosh, I hope I never have to deal with that again!

Rule number 6: Don't get attached to material things (they're likely to get broken, lost, or take up too much space when you frequently move). Goodness, there's not much to get attached to. I told mother not to send china or stemware, and nothing much fits in this cottage.

I've followed all the rules!

Now that she thought more about it, there was one rule that Elizabeth worried she might break: Rule Number 6.

She knew she shouldn't care about material things, but she had grown awfully fond of the rug in the schoolhouse which Jack had bought to replace the one they had to burn. There was a paint stain from when Peter had tripped and landed with his painting face down. She barely noticed the spot anymore, but when she did, it reminded her of how much eagerness the students could have for their work.

There was a juice stain in another corner from when Miles had laughed so hard at a story she had been reading aloud that his grape juice had snorted out his nose and onto the carpet.

And Jacob's spurs had left a small cut. He had been so interested in her story of cowboys in the wild west of Texas that he had insisted on wearing spurs on his boots.

There was still a trace of blood from earlier in the week which she would never fully get out of the rug. When Timmy had placed on the rug the injured bunny he had found, Elizabeth's first thought was that they certainly didn't have a lesson on that in Teacher's College!The children had stood around Elizabeth and looked at her with such trusting eye, begging her to help. They were confident that their school teacher could save the small animal.

And I did!

The bunny was now living in a small crate in the school until it was well enough to be released. Jack had laughed when he saw the bunny's hind leg wrapped in a very expensive blue silk ribbon from Elizabeth's hair, but he admitted she had done a good job.

She knew she probably couldn't take the rug with them when they moved to their next assignment. Jack hadn't said they would be moving anytime soon, but she knew it would happen eventually. She realized it wasn't so much the rug itself that she loved, but the memories it held.

Just like the memories this cottage and the town held.

Her mind again replayed her life since her wedding.

- Her love of teaching, and how Jack supported her.

-The initial awfulness of the lice which actually hadn't turned out too bad. Actually, Jack made it very nice, she thought, blushing a little at the memory of him rubbing lotion in her chapped and red hands.

-The excitement of the circus animals.

-The way Jack had confidence in her strength; confidence that she could handle living outside of town, and dealing with the attitudes of the others.

-Making a home out of the old dilapidated cottage.

-Jack's tenderness and well, he can also be quite . . . well . . . let's just say he can be quite passionate. . . when we have privacy in our own home, . . . and in the backyard at night, . . . and well, there was the one time in the school, but we made sure that it was dark and we had locked the door!

Elizabeth's eyes went from the list to the newest handkerchief Jack had given her as a present. This one had three letters. She had curiously, then lovingly, run her fingers along the stitching. It hadn't taken her long to figure out the monogram.

Getting off the bed, she went to the dresser and placed it next to her two other handkerchiefs from Jack. Each one with a monogram representing his nicknames for her. "W.D." for "walking disaster" because she had seemed to get into so much trouble when she had first come to Coal Valley. And "T.O." for "the one" because that's how Jack felt about her.

As much as she loved those two handkerchiefs, this new one, "M.J.T.", was, by far, her favorite.

Married life wasn't what she had expected. It was so much better.

Jack finished his work for the day and sat for minute at his desk gathering his thoughts.

The desk drawer stuck a little as he opened it. He realized that he should fix that before he turned the desk over to his replacement. Jack removed the envelope from the drawer and pulled out the sheet of paper.

For the third time since he received it that morning, he read the letter. Typed in single space in black ink were the orders for his next assignment.

His reporting date wasn't for another two months. That would hopefully give Hope Valley enough time to find a replacement for Elizabeth.

He already knew the location wasn't ideal. Elizabeth probably wouldn't be able to find a job teaching. She'd have to start all over . . . making a home for them . . . making friends.

They had made good friends here. Friends he never expected to make when he arrived at the dusty town called Coal Valley.

He thought back to that first day. He had ridden into the devastated town, full of widows and fatherless children crowded around the coal mine entrance, fighting over a simple plank. It was a town without a schoolhouse, without a church, without a midwife or even a Café. A town without hope. A town he didn't want to be in.

And then the unexpected had happened.

He had fallen hopelessly, passionately, undeniably in love with Elizabeth.

He knew Elizabeth would miss this town, but he also knew that she would not want to be there without him.

Jack already knew what she would say when he told her they were moving. She would get sentimental about her students and friends, but then she would start packing her bags and declare "We're a team!" and smile at him. And she was right.

They were a team. Forever.

As he put his official orders back in his desk drawer, Jack noticed the other envelope. The one his married Mountie friends, Aaron and Paul, had given him on his wedding day. He had first read it before the wedding ceremony in Ottawa, and again on a few occasions since then.

Jack took out the paper and unfolded it, smiling at the title typed above the numbered list. "The Rules of Being a Good Husband".

He ran his eyes over the rules. He didn't need to read them again. He had already memorized them. He had never told Elizabeth about the paper. He didn't know what she'd think, and so he kept it a secret, his only secret from her.

He realized that he would have followed the rules even if they weren't written on a piece of paper. He would have done them because he loved Elizabeth.

He tried to make sure that she always knew he loved her. That she was prepared to be alone. That she had a warm and safe home. That he supported her and believed in her strength. That he made her feel protected and pampered.

Jack smiled as he thought about all that had happened since he got married.

-The Mountie work he had done . . . some of it helped with Elizabeth's keen insight. He realized that she had not complained once about the occasional nights he had come home late, sweaty, dirty, and tired after a long day of riding.

-The adorable way she had sat on the porch steps, exhausted and with her arm scratched after washing the laundry and giving Comet a lye bath.

-How scared he had been when he thought she was in danger.

-The excitement of the circus animals. He smiled when he thought about how Elizabeth had been at ease with the tiger, but still shrieked at the sight of a small mouse in the house..

-The way she had stood her ground, defending her way of life and her marriage. Even if the marriage vows were a little different than I realized, he thought with a laugh and a shake of his head. That will teach me to look at her beautiful face instead of listening to what she's saying. Although, he knew he'd never get tired of looking at her.

-Making a home out of the old dilapidated cottage.

-Elizabeth's tenderness and well, she can also be quite . . . well . . . let's just say she can be quite passionate. . . when we have privacy in our own home, . . . and in the backyard at night, . . . and well, there was the one time in the school, but we made sure that it was dark and we had locked the door!

Jack put the paper with the written rules back in the desk and closed the drawer. Putting on his hat, he walked out of the jail. He was going home to his wife. Maybe she'd even have dinner tonight, he thought with a smile.

Married life wasn't what he had expected. It was so much better. . . . and life with Elizabeth was more interesting than he ever could have imagined.

The end of Vignette 7

Dear Readers, if you get a chance to re-watch season two, count how many different coats Elizabeth wears! That was my inspiration for the scene I wrote with her and Constable Oakes in Chapter 8.

P.S.Check out my Vignette 8 "Changes" for the next story and some suspense!

P.S.S. Another writer has chosen to write a story and call it a vignette. It is not written by me and I have nothing to do with it. All my vignettes are by jellybean49.

P.S.S.S. I have also written a totally different story called "Reversal of Fortune: What if things were different". It is written under the name woolenslipper to designate that it is not part of my vignette series. If you like my writing style, check it out! There's not too much drama, but a lot of humor.